I am a practising artist who has lived in South Canterbury and contributed to local art and culture through creating, teaching and exhibiting for most of my life. As a mature student I completed a teaching degree and an Arts and Media diploma.  The experience of life-long learning means I continually challenge myself and take risks to expand and develop my practice. My creative life revolves around two spheres: visual arts – painting expressive, figurative works in oils, although I work in other media as the mood takes me and have completed a number of small assemblages.  My second sphere is writing – history, memoir, poetry and fiction. To date I have written and published two biographical history books that explore the lives of women in my family. After being approached by a commissioning editor, I am exploring historical fiction for my next project. The two spheres of my practice are not exclusive: personal connections, words, images and stories continually influence and inspire me. My best work is about people I know and understand. Currently I am developing a series of semi-biographical works around the language of social conditioning and control.