I started my art journey relatively late in life. I had done a range of jobs (some more interesting than others) from Trainee Accountant in England to Tour Bus Driver in New Zealand. I always seemed to be looking for something else, a passion. At school I had been academic so I was kind of pushed in that direction. I didn't put up much resistance as I thought that is what I wanted.

It was in 2013 when my partner and I bought a house in the Bay of Islands that my life took a turn towards art. My neighbour was an artist and we became friends, we would discuss art on walks together and I would be privvy to her work in progress. Then one year I forgot to send a card in time to reach my sister for her birthday in England. This was all the more shocking as we are actually twins!! I decided to draw a horse and send an e-card of my drawing. None of my family believed I had drawn it! My Dads response 'but you were crap at school??!!' Ha ha, with these words of encouragement ringing in my ears I was soon drawing at every opportunity. I showed my neighbour and she gifted me some watercolours to have a go at painting.

I was hooked on painting immediately. I would paint and draw at every opportunity. I had stumbled into art and I was loving it. My lovely neighbour would critique each piece at my request and so I would try and apply each critique to the next painting. After a couple of years of painting in watercolour and selling the odd painting to some very supportive friends and family I decided to give oil painting a go in 2021. As soon as I tried oil painting this became my favoured medium. As you will see this is the only medium I paint in these days.