Born in the North-East of England in 1953, I didn't follow the usual path through art school. I chose instead an Art & Design course at Northumberland College of Education and after that taught in Cumbria.

In 1981 I moved to Orkney where I set up my own studio and gallery in Birsay and did a number of jobs teaching art to children and adults.

During the next 10 years I developed my work and began to exhibit in a variety of venues both in Orkney and around other parts of Britain. In 1991 I moved to Shetland and soon took up an art teaching appointment. I have had numerous exhibitions both in this country and abroad and taken part in an artists' exchange with the Netherlands and took courses on printmaking and sculpture.

Between 2006 and 2008 I worked with Voluntary Service Overseas as a teacher trainer in West Africa. Upon my return to the UK I resumed teaching art part-time and painting. In 2013 I retired from teaching and I now devote my time to painting.

I was a founder member of Veer North, the Shetland artist's group, and since 1994 have been an occasional arts reviewer and critic for The Shetland Times.

​

I have work in the collection of Shetland Islands Council, Shetland Arts, Shetland Amenity Trust, and Smyril Line, Faroe.

​

In 2014 and 2016 I received Visual Arts Awards from Shetland Arts/Creative Scotland to develop my interest in handmade paint and work towards an exhibition based on visits to Iceland. 'Elemental' was shown at the Bonhoga Gallery in July - September 2016.

I was awarded The Donnie Ross Prize for Innovation in Watercolour at Aberdeen Artists Society exhibtions in 2020 and 2021

In 2023 I was awarded the John Busby Award at the 142nd RSW Open.

I was elected to the RSW in September 2023.

​

I am currently represented by a number of Scottish galleries including Kilmorack Gallery in Inverness-shire, the Birch Tree Gallery in Dundas Street, Edinburgh and Gallery Heinzel in Aberdeen.

​