Having graduated from Reading University in 1969 with a Degree in Fine Art I taught in a comprehensive school in east London for three years.
When I had my first child I worked freelance making wooden toys, rag dolls, hobby and rocking horses. I also sculpted wooden cats. I then
experimented with machine embroidery, exhibiting locally and undertaking commissions.
In 1986 my husband, Martin, contracted M.E. and had to take early retirement from his job as a Senior Lecturer in Social Work. I returned to full
time teaching and my art work had to be put on 'hold' whilst I cared for a very ill, disabled husband and two children.
As his health improved Martin became involved in the charity 'Action for M.E.' becoming editor of their journal InterAction. I helped in this, designing
covers for the magazine and working as cartoonist in collaboration with him. I also designed Christmas cards for the charity and so began an interest
in graphic design. My teaching job (Head of Art at a Prep school) allowed me to explore card construction and soft sculpture. I made props both for
school plays and as starting points for story-telling sessions. I also made large working puppets for freelance story tellers who performed in local
schools and at the British Museum. When approached by the charity Lionaid I was delighted to donate a lion sculpture for them to auction.
In retirement I anticipated settling upon one form of expression but the pattern of trying many different art forms has persisted. As well as
painting in acrylic and water-colour and returning to textile art I have fulfilled commissions for murals for a Sure Start centre and a nursing home
I continue to design greetings cards and have written and illustrated stories for my two grand-daughters.
My work has a strong narrative content and I maintain an interest in naive art which is reflected in my paintings and cartoons.
I am now in the fortunate position where my work doesn't need to provide me with an income. It gives me a great deal of pleasure that I am able to
donate a percentage of profits from sales to the charity which has meant so much to our family over the years.
M.E. affects men, women and children of all ages and of all social and ethnic backgrounds. the youngest child to be diagnosed with M.E./ in the Uk was only two.
Estimates vary but it is thought that around 250,000 people in the UK have the illness. 15% of sales of my work is donated to Action for M.E.
If you would like to know more about this charity and the illness/disability contact www.actionforme.org.uk
