About Me

I was born U.K, in the Yorkshire Dales. My family farmed 300 acres and my love of horses began there. I can remember being placed astride the farm's draught horse when just a toddler. Later we were to migrate to Australia and my family owned a farm in the Snowy Mountains. I spent my teenage years riding in the bush, attending Pony Club and competing with my horse in local shows.
There have been artists in my family for several generations and I have been painting in oils since I was twelve. My formal art education took place at Alexander Mackie College (Sydney) where I majored in painting, Canberra School of Art and Phillip Institute (now RMIT).

Though trained as an abstract artist, I spent much of my time in the life drawing room where I acquired a sound knowledge of anatomy and drawing. An artistic turning point for me was viewing G.W Stubbs' iconic horse painting  "Whistlejacket" at the Tate in London. From this point I was inspired to commence a career in equine art where I was able to combine my love of horses, my knowledge of their confirmation and anatomy with my skill as a figurative artist.

I am grateful to many individuals in the racing industry for their support, notably Blackiston Racing Stables for allowing me to attend early morning track work at Flemington, Birdsville Racing club for a behind the scenes view of racing in the bush and photographer, Sharon Chapman for her mentoring and support.