Your occupation, job title, artistic discipline (or very brief description of what you do):

I am full time artist; I paint.

What cities/towns have you lived in (or spent more than a few months in) beginning with the place of your birth?

Johannesburg, South Africa; Sunderland, UK; Durban, South Africa; Tauranga, New Zealand.

What are the earliest stories you remember hearing? The ones that told you about the world?

My father is British, my mother South African, so from a very early age we travelled overseas. A respect and understanding of different cultures was fostered because of this.

What’s your favourite Bay of Plenty landscape, park, building, location, suburb, or side street? Why?

The Minden Lookout. I love it because of its panoramic view of the entire city, Mount Maunganui, and beyond. Also the fact that it can be experienced by everyone, (no level of fitness is required), which means that it’s always on the list when we have friends or family that visit for the first time.

What’s an average day in your life at present?

I wake up typically around 5:30am, have coffee, and tackle emails and admin. The family heads off to school/work. I walk our dog, Patch, head into the studio to paint, the family comes home, dinner, TV, family time, bed, repeat.

What music was present and still memorable from your youth/adolescence?

Live, Nirvana, Tracy Chapman, Tori Amos, and Alanis Morisette are the first few faves that come to mind. Although the first albums I purchased were Fine Young Cannibals and Lionel Richie… the Cranberries are also in the mix there somewhere.

For you as a creative person, who are three influential artists or thinkers?

I don’t think I was ever truly influenced by famous artists. I took art as a subject at school so that’s where I learned about some of the influential artists of our time. I don’t remember ever feeling completely inspired by or in awe of any of them; extremely interesting, talented, yes – but not inspired enough to want to be/paint like them.

I find inspirational speakers and authors influence my practice most as an artist, when it comes to overcoming fear, personal challenges within my craft, life, and being a businesswoman. Two of my favourite books are Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.

If you went away from the Bay of Plenty for a long time and then came back, what are the first three things you would do or visit?

A couple of hours spent on the water and relaxing on the beach at Matakana. A walk at low tide around the Matua estuary.

Looking back at your teen-age self: what one sentence describes that person?

Full of fun, headstrong and determined.

If you had to eat the same meal every day, what would it be?

If I had to eat the same meal every single day I would be living a nightmare. I love all sorts of food and the variety of it all.

What are you planning for 2022/2023 that nobody knows about yet?

I have a couple of ideas that I would like to make happen in 2023, including a workshop/retreat where a group of people use paint to express feelings. Fun, freeing with no experience required nor fear of getting it wrong.

Who are your favourite or most admired figures from history?

Nelson Mandela is the first to come to mind; he had the wisdom to look beyond skin colour and economic status and rather saw society as a whole.

If the Prime Minister asked you to make up a new policy or law for New Zealand, what would it be?

It would have to be a policy that takes a harder stance against global warming.

In one sentence, can you define art?

It is art when its intention is greater than that which it is.

What is missing or lacking from your Bay of Plenty community or environment?

Recreational activities for teenagers – upgraded skate parks and a bus service that operates timeously. Otherwise, we are pretty fortunate to live where we do.

Name a few films that you consider profound, moving or extraordinary?

The Notebook, Me Before You, Avatar (first three that come to mind).

What was your first real job, second, third?

Waitressing was pretty “real”, full on, and great money… My second job was in medical administration, and the third and final: a full time artist.

Where would you like to live, but have yet to?

I’m happy where I am, however, in a perfect world, I’d have a home back in the African bush to escape to from time to time and get my “African fix”.

What word of advice would you offer an aspiring creative person?

Find time to paint and create as often as you can. Start small by painting and creating for family and friends while honing your skills. Set goals, get clear on why you paint/create. Most importantly, believe in yourself!

What’s the biggest problem about life in New Zealand? How you would solve it?

The biggest problem is that we tend to, too often, look for problems. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the news reported simply the facts with no adjectives, and when there really wasn’t any major news, they said “nothing majorly newsworthy happened in New Zealand today”?

What is your dream of happiness?

To experience, often, moments of contentment and gratitude within the present.

Here is a link to my website to view my work.

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