Trained as a specialist secondary school Art Teacher - North Adelaide School of Art and Western Teachers College. Taught 3 years in SA country High School then spent a couple of years living and working in Europe, with the final 9 months based in England.
On return I completed a Special Education Short Course and went on to teach Special Ed combined with art at an all-Girls High School in Adelaide for about 4 years.
Adoption of 3 overseas-born children subsequently led me to work in the social welfare area, with my art being put aside for many years.
Encouraged by my husband, my passion for art returned and after doing a WEA course in Botanical Drawing I joined the Adelaide Botanic Gardens Art group. In 2000 I joined the Gawler Art Society. Since that time I have enjoyed painting, exhibiting and learning. After moving to Kapunda in 2004 I became administratively involved with the Kapunda gallery while continuing to paint for myself, exhibit and indulge in my other passion, gardening!
My art is about whatever takes my eye at any given moment in time. Sometimes they are short moments, sometimes long.
I have completed a number of commissions in Australia and overseas and am actively involved in the Kapunda Mural Town project & Silo Art project.
Currently working on
- a project to document, through Pen/Wash sketches, old cottages and heritage buildings in Kapunda street by street;
- documenting my garden with watercolours, in concertina books;
- keeping visual travel diaries of holidays / places visited in Moleskine watercolour books - currently on book 8.
Genre/Medium/Style
No specific genre, but particularly enjoy recording 'history', buildings and objects; nature in all its guises, flora of all descriptions; seascapes and landscapes; still life; life drawing, anything really that appeals to me - it must appeal!
Work in variety of mediums - watercolour, gouache, graphite, coloured pencils, conte (favourites); acrylic, soft pastels, charcoal, oil. Currently experimenting with painting dyes on fabric, including batik methods and experimentation. Subject usually indicates the appropriate media.
Style is dependent on subject. Prefer realism but enjoy adding design elements into works.
Achievements
- Diploma in Teaching (Art) North Adelaide School of Art / Western Teachers College 1967
- Sole Art teacher (Yrs 8 -11) at SA country High School for 3 years. Teaching Art & Special Ed. to slow-learning secondary students for 4 years.
- Have exhibited in many city and country SA galleries; numerous Awards and acquisitions; solo, joint and group exhibitions. Curated exhibitions.
- Chairperson Gawler Art Society and Kapunda Community Gallery. Chairperson Kapunda Mural Town Project & Silo Art Project.
- (Inaugural) Member of SAWS [SA Watercolour Society]; Member of Kapunda Community Gallery; Member Urban Sketchers Adelaide chapter. Life Member, Gawler Art Society and Kapunda Community Gallery.
