It started when I was 7 years old with a single swallow skimming low over a field in the English Lake District. I was entranced by this beautiful creature that had crossed oceans, savannahs and deserts to be there. I loved everything about it; its perfect form and glorious fluid flight. I remember thinking I would fly with it if I could. I wanted to capture its essence so I began to draw birds.

 

Growing up in Warwickshire, I spent much of my early life wandering in its woods and fields and became a passionate lover of wildlife. I now still sketch from life and make more finished works in oil and watercolour in my studio at home in our Buckinghamshire village. I also make linocuts and drypoints.

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Illness in early adulthood ruled out art college so I joined a life drawing group for several years, and just drew and painted. Later I gained an honours degree in Art History from the Open University. I have written many articles on art and wildlife subjects for magazines.

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For many years I exhibited in annual exhibitions at our gallery, Rightangle in Brackley, Northamptonshire.

 

Recently my work has been chosen for the prestigious 'Natural Eye' exhibition held by the Society of Wildlife Artists at the Mall Galleries in London, and for the Annual Art Competition at the Broadway Arts Festival in the Cotswolds.

 

My work has been published in calendars for many years by Salmon Calendars and by Flame Tree Publishing of London. 

 

Witnessing the natural world dwindle over my lifetime has been hard to bear, although I try to remain optimistic. I aim to avoid overt sentimentality but am happy to embrace my own emotional response to the creatures I meet.

I have travelled widely in Europe, the USA, Asia and Africa and carry a sketchbook wherever I go.