Biography
I grew up in Omagh, Northern Ireland, surrounded by the heather strewn Sperrin Mountains. As a child, I spent enchanting hours in my mother's garden, timeless summers at my Grandparent's farm in County Cavan, with freedom to roam the land and vacationing on the beautiful Donegal coast. I absorbed the scenery, atmosphere and people while traveling extensively in Europe and Asia. I lived in the Lake District in England before moving to California in 1988.
My work reflects my love of the natural world and the joy found in the meditative stillness of painting. I have worked in oil painting, gouache, charcoal, enameling, pen and ink and watercolor, and exhibited my work internationally.
These days, I feel greatly inspired by the pristine California coast, mountains, landscape and flowers such as roses, lilies, sunflowers and orchids abundant in the Santa Cruz area. Other inspiration includes: tropical fish, mermaids, swans, angels, Tibetan Thanka painting and book illustrations.
As I become absorbed in the subject, the creative process brings me into a calm state in the present moment. Creating clarity and vividness of color is a great joy to me. My primary love for the last 24 years is transparent watercolor, allowing the white of the paper to represent the translucent lights in the paintings. I strive to capture the spirit of my subject while balancing between control and freedom. I allow the colors to do their own dance in wet into wet technique and also build up luminous glazes. I paint plien air or in my home studio from flowers and occasionally take photos and work from these. I do several thumb nail sketches, to help work out the composition and values, before painting.
I am currently working on another ‘In the Garden’ series and plan water paintings depicting oceans, rivers and lakes, in California and Ireland. One of my loves is creating children’s stories and storytelling. I plan to write and illustrate books for children with themes about the nature of the mind, compassion, transformation and lots of magic! I am also pursuing my long time interest in Tibetan thanka painting with classes from a master thanka painter, residing in Soquel, CA.