Originally from Cumbria, I graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2005. My final year was devoted to writing and illustrating a children's picture book. Since then I have focused on painting and in 2006 became a tenant at Manchester Craft & Design Centre, at Studio 25, which I share with Kathryn Edwards. I'd like to return to children's illustration further down the line if possible - in the meantime I love being able to spend so much time painting.

I have been exhibiting widely in the north west, including among others Bury Art Gallery, Littleborough Gallery, Heart Gallery (Hebden Bridge), Turnpike Gallery (Leigh), The Whitworth Art Gallery, Portico Library and Gallery, Telford's Warehouse (Chester), Blossom in Chorlton, and Shire Hall Gallery in Stafford. More recently I have been represented in London by Webbs Fine Art.

Subject matter is usually related to a love of nature, in particular birds, flowers and butterflies. I'm also greatly influenced by Japanese kimono design and enjoy using a combination of striking patterns and bold colours. I aspire to create work which people will take enjoyment from viewing; a simplistic yet honest and rewarding goal. I use predominantly acrylic on canvas, often combined with inks, watercolours, pastels and collage. In the case of the butterfly paintings, the butterflies are carefully hand-painted before being reproduced as collage material and arranged in a composition on the canvas. After securing the butterflies I add washes of ink and add details, before a glossy varnish is added giving an opulent lustre.