"Having grown up in the west coast of Scotland amidst mountains and glens I now live in the far north of Scotland - a more open, wind swept land with dramatic coasts and empty beaches. My work typically depicts these two varying Highland landscapes, inspiration drawn from land so familiar I feel its breath and movement, as well as enjoying its lines, colours and contrasts. Having studied Embroidered and Woven Textiles at Glasgow School of Art it is most natural for my work to depict this landscape through the media of textiles and stitch. I create the work through the collage of fabric and paper, then a layering of translucent fabric and machine stitch, then finally cutting back to earlier layers and a final embellishment of hand stitch. Each picture is a development of line sketches drawn first. These line drawings are like an individual's hand writing and so each picture is therefore a unique response to place. The aim is to celebrate the landscape, to create something beautiful in response, and to bring a feeling of joy to the viewer."