I am a professional visual and applied artist involved in setting up exhibitions and research related to textile projects, regularly exhibiting and selling work alongside freelance teaching.

I have always been self-employed and started my working career as a hairdresser employing three staff for ten years. I then sold the business at a profit due to bereavement within the family. I put my energy into brining up my young family and continuing to run a hairdressing business on a smaller scale from home.

Once the children had started full time education I started to think about following my dreams as a creative person. Starting part time on a foundation course and going onto university to study art. This was one of my dreams as a young person, but due to having undiagnosed dyslexia I was told academically it would be impossible for me to do this, I wanted to prove them wrong!

It's been hard work and sometimes frustrating when things are not moving fast enough, or having to change direction when problems arise, but being able to do what I love and make money from it, is one of the highlights. Also, being able to work with people young and old who need to be inspired by art is amazing and in this ever-changing world where retirement could possibly be a thing of the past, it is liberating to think that my type of business could continue indefinitely.

“It’s not where you are, but the journey you have made.”