I have always had a passion for art. It has always been a sort of therapy for me, a way to escape when the world feels to much. It brings me back, like meditation, gives me space and allows me to be mindful and creates a state of calm. I have always drawn and painted but i developed my style when i was about 18. I had dropped out of art college as it wasn’t what i hoped it would be and i felt frustrated. I went on holiday to St Ives in Cornwall and i was so inspired. It was an artists paradise. The light down there and the vibrant colours, the sea and the architecture, i was overcome with excitement and ideas. I moved down a year later. I got a live in job in a hotel and spent the summer developing my style with watercolours. I enjoyed visiting the many galleries and partaking in life drawing classes at “St Ives School Of Painting”. I loved this summer, but the season drew to an end and i came back up north. I spent the winter painting from postcards, i couldn’t settle back home and as soon as March came i moved to Tresco on The Isles Of Scilly. I arrived by helicopter, watching the islands appear through crystal clear waters was an experience that i will never forget. I got another live in job working on the islands only pub. It took a while to adjust to life on Tresco, it was so quiet. A complete change from the bustling streets of St Ives. I soon fell completely in love with Tresco though. The beaches were tropical and the history of the islands was enchanting. I was captivated. I spent my days kayaking to other islands and getting on ferries to explore. I met a few artists here and enjoyed painting with them. I loved getting lost on walks and listening to the sounds of nature. Parts of the island were so rugged, you could hear waves crashing and the soft background noise of the foghorn on the lighthouse, whereas the other parts were so tranquil, if you closed your eyes all you could hear was the many birds and the gentle lapping of the sea. The season drew to a close in November and i was sad to leave. I came back up North for a while. I got a job as a travel agent and settled down for a while. I went on holidays, i still painted everyday but i really missed my adventures. After 3 years, i got itchy feet again. I gave up my flat and travelled round Greece. I started off in Athens, then moved to Crete, i travelled all around Crete. I was so inspired by the Venetian buildings, the lovely people and the stunning beaches. It became a source of inspiration for my work. I then went over to Kassos, where no one spoke English, it was a very unspoilt island. Then i moved to Rhodes town and settled for the summer in Lindos. It was a very picturesque village and i was constantly painting. After the craziness of Lindos i needed peace and tranquility again so i moved back to the UK, to the picturesque Lake District. I started off in the Langdale Valley with a live in job. I feel like everyday i lived in The Lakes i woke up feeling alive and excited. Everywhere i looked there was beauty. I was constantly submerged in the drama of the fells, listening to the howling of the wind tearing through the trees and the mountains. The everchanging landscape meant i was constantly painting. The lakes is where i produced my main body of work. I loved the area and i was always setting up art fairs, they started in the tiny village of Chapel Stile. I met so many new artists and we formed a collective. We exhibited together in Ambleside, Grasmere, Hawkshead, Cartmel and Keswick. We went onto work in the prestigious Rydal Hall, setting up art trails and exhibition events. We worked with The Wordsworth Poet Society to create an exhibition collaborating art and poetry, presenting in the gothic Rydal Church. When my first daughter was born, i didn’t have the same time that i used to. I focused on smaller pieces but didn’t have the same time to exhibit. I moved back to Cheshire to be closer to family and my second daughter was born. I spent my time creating with my girls but had little time to produce my work. I got a job in mental health and my creativity soon took over again. I started painting again and with my clients and encouraging mindfulness through art. This inspired me to go back to my painting again and last year i produced alot of work. This year i set up my Etsy account and have started selling at art fairs again. It is something that i love to do and something that will always be a big part of me.
