While I normally work at my studio at Alexandra Parade, this year I am looking forward to exhibiting with Anne Armstrong (textiles),  Ceci Alderton (woolly hatz) and Margy McNally,  in the atmospheric Holy Trinity Church.

I grew up in Africa on a farm in a remote area, and came to love all things alive. I have always painted. It was a great escape from miserable school time, where I was expelled from home economics (girls’ stuff) and sent off to do art with the boys. Phew! Growing up in a war area I trained as a nurse at first after a spell in the newsroom of our local TV station. To escape I attended an evening course in life drawing where I played poker after lessons to win enough to pay for my classes.  Teaching English and Latin  followed then ordination to the priesthood, where I have served in several parishes in Scotland over 26 years, but always painting on the side with a range of classes, perhaps the culmination being Botanical Illustration at the Edinburgh Royal Botanical Gardens.

I am increasingly in awe of the wonder of the earth – the plants, the rocks, the sea treasures, the sounds, the swirl of water, the change in seasons, and find myself loving the hours spent in detailed work. It is a kind of meditation, a path into the vastness that underlies all. I love working in oils or acrylics or watercolours, depending on the subject, and my work varies from detailed botanical studies to wide seascapes and landscapes, and more abstract spiritual studies. I will show some of these in this special venue this year.

Retirement brought us to Dunoon – a happy choice, and the arts community has become a wonderful source of friends and support. I find myself teaching art now (which feels a bit cheeky!).

I lead the Thursday morning art sessions at the Dunoon Burgh Hall and am happy to lead workshops on demand. I also run art lessons from my studio at home. My Air BnB (Gramercy) is available for art or spiritual retreats.

Prints and cards are available for most of the images on this site. Do enquire.