For as long as I can remember I have been obsessed with flowers. The colours, shapes, textures, and fragrance all captivated me. As a child I remember getting excited when the violets flowered in the winter, when the blossom stated to fall in the backyard in spring to look like snow, summer was hydrangeas and pumpkin flowers and autumn chrysanthemums. Each seasons had something to look forward too. I was constantly looking forward.

This love set me on a path to become a florist and horticulturist. For much of my working life I have been surrounded by plants. Picking, propagating, arranging, planting, and painting. It was during my study at Burnley Collage I stumbled across the beautiful art form of Botanical illustration. I went on to study with Fiona McKinnon and Jenny Phillips in South Yarra and learnt the precise skills needed to measure, count, and explore the finer details of the plant world. I spent hours and hours measuring, counting leaves and petals, to correctly represent the specimen for identification preposes. A labour of love. From the botanical world I wanted to explore some freedom in my painting. This is where another incredible artist came into my life. Linda Gibbs. Linda is known for her beautiful soft landscapes that leave you dreaming. Linda gave me the space to create what I feel, not necessary what I see. Going form measuring everything to closing my eyes, gave me the confidence to create what I love.

Today I paint both botanical and botanicaly, one to learn and explore and one to represent and imagine.