I am originally from Northern Ireland, then attended art college in Scotland, studying jewellery, before coming to Australia in 2005. I initially came over to visit friends but fell in love with the country (and a certain Australian man) and stayed rather longer than I expected.
On arrival in Australia I attended a weekend printmaking course and the technique just clicked for me. It was a natural continuation of my love of drawing. I enjoy the cross over between art and craft when making a copper plate. I still use many of my jewellery making tools and I still get to work in metal, but I am also able to incorporate my loose line drawing style as well as embracing the ‘happy accidents’ that printmaking so often presents.
I have always been interested in birds. As a child my mum pointed out birds to me, told me about their songs and bought me my first bird book. When I came to Australia I felt like I was in a new world, very far from home, mostly because of the birds. Their different shapes, colours, sounds and even how they behaved. I didn’t quite believe my friends when they told me about swooping magpies! After constant questions of “What’s that bird? oooh! what’s that one?” my friends gifted me my first Australian bird book and I set about familiarising myself with all these exotic species. I feel using birds as my inspiration is my way of continuing to learn about them. There’s so much more to know!
I now live in country Victoria with my husband, two young sons and a whole flock of chickens.
