Artist and landscape architect

I am an artist with a post graduate degree in Landscape Architecture. As the lucky recipient of scholarships and awards to further my work, I have taken up residencies in Sri Lanka (Geoffrey Bawa Trust), Berlin (Edinburgh University Small Projects Grant) and Hungary (British Council Scholarship). In Scotland, I exibit regularly with the Scottish Society of Botanical Artists, the Scottish Society of Artist Architects and I am a member of the Scottish Society of Artists. My work is concerned with the land and our cultural heritage; how the land is perceived, used and how to create conversations open to all artists, ecologists and community groups. I am an enthusiastic educator and practitioner, and work both on site and in my studio.

Paintings in oil on canvas

As a painter and a musician, I enjoy the parallels of the two disciplines both of which require dedicated practice. Music is more direct in its' emotional impact, but painting also strikes a chord, or discord, between itself and the beholder.

I am experimenting with the idea of visual sound, long notes, and chords of colour.

Flemish Landscapes 2012-2018

Living in a flat landscape has perceptual challenges that can be disorientating which require a level of analysis.

This body of work on canvas was founded on the practice of 1500 daily oil pastel sketches, throughout the seasons, and executed in bound books. The culminating solo show was in the panelled library of the Lakken Halle, a Heritage Building in the medieval city of Zoutleeuw, once used for weaving.

My work reflects where I live. When I travel, it is all about sketches and sketch books, responsive to my whereabouts. Settled, with a studio, my work has become the result of a longer dialogue with my surroundings and is deeply reflective.

Daily oil sketch practice, over 3 years, from my studio in Belgium.

Botanical illustrations

I have been practicing this discipline since I graduated in 1993 and received a scholarship from The Geoffrey Bawa Trust to study in Brief Garden, Sri Lanka. My plant illustrations formed the basis of a conservation plan of the 3 acre garden after its' creator, Bevis Bawa, died. Pen, ink and watercolour are my chosen mediums on heavy rag cotton watercolour paper of archival quality.

I have continued to paint in botanical gardens in India, Belgium, Australia and the UK. Being self taught, I have developed a style of my own, which, although true to life, happily omits the stricter rules of Botanical Illustration.

I am fascinated by botanical artists who worked in 16th Century onwards. Many of these artists were intrepid women explorers, or unknown Indian and Chinese catalogue artists who worked for botanical gardens and shipping companies trading in plants for Kew Gardens.

In March 2025, I became a director of the Scottish Society of Botanical Artists, much to my surprise and delight.

Avocado

Lock down project - growing avocadoes from pips

Anemone 'wild swan'

Smeaton Nursery and Gallery, East Lothian

Iris germanica

Kruidtuin Project, Leuven, Belgium

Rhododendron

Dawyck Botanical garden

Some Sri Lankan plants, from the collection of illustrations, exhibited at Brief Gardens and in Colombo at Gallery 706, Barefoot. Now held in Brief Garden House and Museum and in the Geoffrey Bawa Trust.