Artist's background

I was born in England in 1951 and moved to Iceland in 1976 and have lived in my adopted country ever since.  My education led me on a path of science, industry, product development, quality assurance and marketing – in other words nothing to do with art for too many years. 

Thirty years ago my dormant passion for watercolour started to awaken and I have pursued it ever since. Initially I explored the world of painting alongside my science-based career. Numerous teachers both here and abroad have guided me along the exciting road of watercolour exploration.  I am indebted to them all for their wisdom and encouragement.  In 2007 I took the opportunity to change direction in my career and since then have been teaching watercolour painting to adults - a privilege which I greatly appreciate.   

I often say to my pupils, “it‘s only paper!” and once they approach that paper with audacity instead of timidity and awe, then we can expect something exciting to happen. Watercolour has never failed to excite or exasperate me; it can often astonish or disappoint me; this unpredictability means that I always come back for more.  And there is always more to be discovered.