I feel that my paintings are like contemplative statements. They often start from a photograph, a fairy tale, a creature, or a feeling.... and it's only when I finish the process that I can see the inner truth of my experience as a woman, spiritual being, mother. They are really female stories of pain, anger, isolation and strength, of overcoming. Painting slows my thought process down and allows a depth to come through, like a meditation. It  is an intimate psychological space where the internal becomes visually external. It is also a form of therapy, an arena of complete freedom, creativity and imagination where one can say and be anything in the world.

I am inspired by Vogue, the V&A museum, children's illustrated books, fairy tales, Angela Carter and Roald Dahl. However, the biggest influence on my work is Paula Rego- I modelled and worked with her on her abortion series over 20 years ago, and this had a big impact on the way I approach picture making, and seeing life from a woman's perspective. It is a way of truth telling and empowerment. 

education

1992 - 1994  B-TEC Art & Design Richmond Upon Thames College

1994 - 1997  BA (Hons) Painting Chelsea College of Art (UAL)

1999 - 2001  MA Drawing Wimbledon School of Art (UAL)

membership

full member of Society of Women Artists

exhibitions/shows

september 1996   'private view' solo exhibition, earlsfield library, london sw17

september 1997   the students gallery, wimbledon london sw19

april 1998  'fresh paint' wiseman fine art, oxford

december 1998  south west open exhibition, orleans house gallery, twickenham

may 1999   'images of the human form' montage studio gallery, north yorkshire

june 1999  solo exhibition, freedom bar, soho, london w1

august 2000  'the female form', brixton art gallery, london sw9

december 2005  figurative group exhibition, orleans house gallery, twickenham

august 2022  Oxmarket Contemporary Open 2022, Oxmarket Gallery, Chichester, West Sussex

september 2022  Society of Women Artists' 161st Annual Open Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London SW1

june 2023  Society of Women Artists 162nd Annual Open Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London SW1

march 2024 'Threads' exhibition Gallery 42, Eastbourne, East Sussex

june 2024 Society of Women Artists 163rd Annual Open Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London SW1

june 2024 ‘sister hold my hand’ group exhibition, Open Space Studios, Waterloo, London SE1

september 2024 'hold your own' group exhibition, Tom Cox Gallery, London SE19

june 2025 Society of Women Artists 164th Open Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London SW1
 

illustrated books

along came george written by linda jones 2012

marvin the moonling written by linda jones 2013

the friendship book (private commission) 2017

i spy the alphabet 2019

relevant work

1998-1999  artist's model for Dame Paula Rego

2000  mosaic maker, mesguich mosaik, london w8