I grew up in Coquitlam, BC where I lived for the first 25 years of my life enjoying the beauty of Vancouver and the lower mainland. My favourite place of all though, was to be at our cabin on Pender Island, one of the gulf islands. We started going there when I was only 7, taking the ferry from Tsawwassen almost every weekend and most of the summer. It was always an adventure and quickly became dear to my heart. Even after growing up and moving away, I return often to visit my parents who eventually retired there. Our lodging on the island began as a tent on the bluff and has now transformed into the beautiful house my Dad built from the ground up. When I think of home, Pender is always my first thought!

All my life I have been drawn to creativity in some form.  When I was young, my focus was definitely on sports, but I still managed to find time for the arts through piano, drawing cartoons or writing a story or poem.  When I had a family of my own, during the childhood years, my creativity of choice was scrapbooking.  Now that my three amazing children have leapt into adulthood, I believe I am truly creating through what has become my passion... acrylic painting.

My interest in painting was spurred on in childhood by studying my own family history in the medium.  My grandfather's uncle AY Jackson from the Group of Seven has always been my favourite inspiration.  I have admired and studied his life and artworks.  A few years ago I had the opportunity  to travel to Yellowknife where I found several of his en plein aire locations.  I found it extremely motivating to stand in a spot where this famous relative sat and sketched and created masterpieces.  I recreated a few images from those locations and have since painted one in my own style.  I have painted with a passion over the last ten plus years, but I believe that this Yellowknife adventure is what catapulted my creativity to the next level. 

I have studied art through a variety of sources including the Alberta College of Art, a plethora of workshops including learning from the late renowned wildlife painter Terry Isaac and, most significantly, over ten years building my skills at Swinton's Art Studio in Calgary, Alberta. I experienced a variety of instructors there, but most notably was Sue Contini who guided me and taught me to be my own artist.  She was, and still is, an amazing artist, teacher, mentor, and beloved friend.

My move to the gorgeous BC interior over a year ago has started a new decade of inspiration for my painting. I am very excited by the variety of beautiful images that I am able to capture in the area and feel my paintings have taken on a new painterly quality that I hope to continue to develop. I have traveled to many places and lived in a variety of incredible locations throughout my life and feel very fortunate to spend my retirement years in this amazing area. The rolling landscapes, variety of wildlife, and colourful vegetation fill me with inspiration and I am excited to see what I can create!