I was born in England, and come from an artistic background. (My ancestors, including Thomas Chippendale who designed chairs in 18th century England, were all artists!) I studied several languages at school and university, and have used them extensively in my career and on my travels, but I always longed to follow in the family footsteps and be an artist. I started off by painting imaginative landscapes, and used very fine pens and brushes to create tiny miniatures, some measuring only one inch square. The Mini-Bermuda collection was inspired from this phase, some images being actual size.

This collection includes examples from each stage of my artistic development. The early watercolours are full of innocence. Once called ‘honeymoon specials’, they portray Bermuda through rose-coloured spectacles. Delicate pinks blend with hazy blues in ‘ethereal’, romantic dreamscapes. Then came the peaceful moonlight scenes, followed by ‘whimsical’ watercolours with riotous colours of Bermuda flora, fauna and architecture.

The ‘Bermuda Blues’ series (from oils), depicts the amazing colours of Bermuda waters, beaches and seascapes.

I hear people say that my art makes them feel happy, and that they love my colours. There is no better reason for my being an artist. I strive for beauty and harmony in my work. I love the Impressionists, especially Turner and Monet, Aivazovsky for his seascapes, and Georgia O’Keeffe for her flower studies.

Creativity in any form is my passion. I believe that my creativity springs from a deep love for nature and the natural world… I love animals and birds, and from bees to beetles, whenever I can, I save tiny lives. I love to be in touch with nature and travel off the beaten track, photographing as I go.

I am often inspired to write poems and compose on the piano. Colours, notes, words can mean the same thing. I have been described as a ‘semi-oriental mystic’ and an ‘eternal optimist’, which shows in my paintings. The music is wistful but the poems are more like whimsical tragedies. Perhaps words are the ultimate truth and the future of the planet is uncertain.