I was born in London in 1961 to a single mum. I’ve never met nor seen a photo of  my father.  I left  home and school at 16 and amazingly I was accepted into Art College Foundation. 

In 1986 I left Portsmouth Polytechnic with a 1St Class honours Degree. I exhibited in group and solo shows before coming to Birmingham where I was represented by mIdland Contemporary Art Gallery and  exhibited alongside Paula Rego. 

My early work focuses on myths, symbols,  nursery rhymes and biblical stories. Maybe being the daughter of a clairvoyant and not knowing my real father has given me an deep interest in these subjects and may  account for the story telling aspect of my work 

Many works are accompanied by poetic  text which often enhances the imagery.  I never start any painting with any idea: I just let it evolve through paint and colour. Canvases are turned around and around until suddenly a story or title arrives and the painting makes sense to me . These paintings evoke the timeless symbols  of memory and imagination ususallypresent in the child but often destroyed in adulthood.

My  abstract work combines more simple form and colour which resonate with a spiritual and meditative quality . Again the titles remain key to these works.

In 1994, I became a mother  and a lone parent and stopped painting. I began to make work which expressed my experience of being a lone parent using digital media, collage and found objects.  Singled Out and Marriage Books. I set up a Lone Parent Group in Balsall Heath called Phoenix and organised workshops and keep fit for other lone Mums.  I devised and populated a website for other  lone parent s and even went to the Houses of Parliament to help the MPS understand that not a ll lone parents are feckless young girls.

Alongside this work, I began devising quite complex interactive installations for galleries and events because I wanted my own 5 year old and other children to be involved during visits to galleries and exhibitions.

These installations have included audio recordings of  wise words , wonderful working wishing wells, fluorescent pink glasses, 8ft Proverb Candles  and other objects which juxtapose contemporary culture with myth in a fun way. The Clutching at Straws installation at the ICC enabled approx 2000 people of all ages and backgrounds to take part and create the ever evolving installation. I also designed and created a board game based on facts and figures about addiction and the lived experience of crack cocaine users.

My interest in games, story telling  and myth  led me to develop a portfolio of site specific works  with Primary schools mostly in the West Midlands and in 1997 Kaos arts was established. Works made with children include 3D seating, interactive puzzled people,  magnetic fuzzy felt shape walls, 100m large scale printed vector work including The River of Life and the Enchanted wood for corridors and walls.