My career has been varied but has always centred on my artistic abilities. I started out designing and manufacturing knitted fashions then moved on to teaching both adults and primary school children. The latter encompassed a wide variety of art and design techniques from textiles and fashion to fine art and theatre design.

I am interested in history and love to explore historical buildings. Fashions of the past also fascinate me and, as I learnt how to pattern cut in my younger days, I find the methods of construction used in these garments intriguing.

I am also a keen gardener and love a garden full of flowers as this in turn attracts wildlife as well as our mouse/bird-catching cat! I love to listen to classical and romantic music particularly when painting but ultimately being creative is my passion.

In more recent years, although I am the Design Consultant for my husband’s Web Design business, I have started painting again, in particular miniature pictures which I have found both challenging and rewarding.

I enjoy painting a range of different subject matter and have had many and varied requests for all kinds of pictures including pets and other animals, a favourite place or landscape, a favourite flower or even copies of old masters. I am lucky that I can lend my hand to just about any subject, which makes my job more interesting. I particularly feel happy when I’ve painted a pet portrait – to get a positive reaction from the owner is very rewarding!

My appreciation of past artists grows daily. The art movements I particularly enjoy are the Pre-Raphaelites, Impressionists, Rococo, Romantic and Baroque. Very classical tastes!

I always think that a quality hand painted picture looks so much better in a dolls house than a printed one. It might cost more but I would like to think people buy my work as an investment. All my work is a one off (unless it is a reproduction of a old master) and I don't repeat any (except in extreme circumstances such as loss or damage), although I might do the same subject in a different size, from a different angle or in a different style. I don’t produce a catalogue because all my work is unique but I try and display as much variety as I can on my website, including past sales, so that people can see the possibilities. I’m always willing to discuss in detail any commissions with my customers, in order to match the finished painting as closely as possible to their requirements.

Christmas time is especially busy as an original miniature painting is an excellent gift to give a dolls house enthusiast or miniaturist particularly if the subject is personal to them, (pet portraits are always popular, particularly cats). During the Christmas season, I often paint snow scenes and other Christmas-related subjects such as a portrait of an ‘old fashioned’ Santa Claus or presents under the tree.

I always seem to be working on commissions - I just wish I could paint faster! However, I am careful to ensure that each work receives the same attention to detail that my customers expect and rely on.