Coming from an artistic family*, I rebelled and, with degrees in Zoology and Oceanography became an Environmental Scientist for many years, but my real interest has always been in creative pursuits including textile art, photography, ceramics, and sculpture. Twenty years ago, I stepped away from science and back into art. I was taught by my parents and mentors in embroidery and sculpture. I have enjoyed a long string of university evening classes in ceramics, textiles and printing over many years and finally a City and Guilds Diploma in design and patchwork. I continue to enjoy experimenting and learning every day. My inspiration comes from nature and how light plays on forms, water and landscape. Textile art is where I can express my love of colour, design and texture. I hand dye my own fabrics (the only way to get the exact colour I want) and use applique, painted dye, paint or screen printing to create the image. I love the way individual layers of fabric when joined with stitching become one, and very different. I like to push the three dimensions from a gently quilted surface to extremes, either visually or physically. Ceramics and sculpture are where I explore my love of three dimensional forms. Increasingly the two branches of my artistic expression are melding together."
* Frances Macdonald, WW2 war artist and Leonard Appelbee, Civil List pensioner for services to Art. Both graduates of the Royal Academy who exhibited at the 1951 Festival of Britain, they taught at Goldsmiths, Ruskin and Bournemouth whilst being professional artists, and have work in Tate Britain and the Imperial War Museum.