Welcome

I am a visual artist and farmer’s wife based in the southern Yorkshire Dales. I focus on the diversity of nature within landscape and produce vibrant studies of natural and wild places along with British sheep breeds and other animals with the aim of broadening public understanding of their intrinsic qualities and of northern upland farming practices. I explore various mediums, textures, inclusions and collage to create innovative artwork, to instil a true essence of place and to develop my creative practice as I grow my artistic future.

In the main I employ watercolour where granulation, texture and serendipity combine with intriguing results. I explore the translucency through diverse techniques and a range of media to develop these images using a light, effortless, approach enabling a wet in wet and “less is more” style, losing edges and blending pale “barely visible” washes against richer accented colours. My working life walking the hills and dales of Yorkshire gave me a unique opportunity to study the nuances and power of colours in nature that now form the staples within my palette.

My sheep portraits express the true characteristics of each breed, with added splashes of colour, to celebrate the part they have played in the evolution of the landscape and Yorkshire Dales, in particular.

I have held solo shows and been selected for a number of Open art exhibitions. My style has developed both through my Fine Art degree programme and through a range of arts and crafts seminars and workshops attended over the past 15 years. I have completed a number of individual commissions and led 'Innovative Watercolours' workshops. To stimulate creativity and supply my other outlets I opened a small studio in Skipton with the Craven Arts Charitable Trust in 2020. I now work from its flagship creative arts centre Craven Arts House in Otley Street, Skipton.

Having worked as public rights of way officer for the Yorkshire Dales National Park for over 23 years prior to my retirement, I have in-depth knowledge of the importance and geography of these rugged landscapes and what influences impact upon their environment. Our family farming background gives further insight into agricultural life and understanding of how farming has shaped and managed these unique landscapes for centuries, where every one of the Yorkshire Dales differs. My additional interest in natural fibre and textiles began with my family's tailoring business in Skipton (1920-1977) and all of these elements feed directly into my creative practice today.

I was born, brought up, and worked in local government in the Craven area all my life and in retirement I gained a B A (Hons) Fine Art (first) Degree in 2016. I was Secretary to the hugely popular Gargrave Exhibition for over 10 years, and more recently have been co-opted as Membership representative for the Craven Arts Trust Charity.

Exhibitions and shows

North Yorkshire Open Studios ‘Spring Exhibition,, Craven Arts House, Skipton 2025

Idea of North, North Yorkshire Open Studios exhibition, Rural Arts, Thirsk 2025

'Sceap and tun' - Sheep Town solo exhibition Holy Trinity Church, Skipton 2024

Holden Clough Nurseries Makers Market 2024

Home Company, Skipton business profile event 2024

Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival exhibition Malham National Park Centre 2024

Art & Heritage exhibition St Mary's Church Thornton-in-Craven 2023-2024

Cumbrian Wool Gathering, Crookland, Kendal 2024

Craven Arts Exhibitions, Butterflies & Lepidoptera, Spring, Legacy of Land, and other Exhibitions 2022-2024

Craven Arts Christmas Exhibition 2015-2018 and 2020-2024

Labour of Love, Land, Lives and Nature in England’s Upland Commons. Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes 2024

New Beginnings I & II, Badger in the Wall Gallery, Clapham 2024

Craven Makers and Vintage Crafts Fairs, Gargrave 2023-2024

Art in the Pen, Skipton 2023 (& 2014-2016 inclusive)

Skipton Sheep Day, Holy Trinity Church, Skipton 2023

Trawden Agricultural Show Craft Fair 2020-2024

On Hoof through Hawthorn, Mill Bridge Gallery, Skipton 2022

Give Peat a Chance, Climate Crisis Season, The Folly Museum & Gallery, Settle & Cliff Castle, Keighley 2022-2023

Summer Exhibition, The Bingley Gallery, Bingley, West Yorkshire 2022

Give Peat a Chance, North Pennines Peat Partnership, Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes 2022

'Craven Arts takeover', Folly Museum & Gallery, Settle 2022

'Not just Trees', Bingley Gallery, Bingley, West Yorkshire 2022

Artists 'Vision of the Future', Artist profile feature in Yorkshire Dales Review 2022

Artist in Residence, Craven Arts Hub & Gallery, Skipton 2019-2022

Selling Artist, at Folly Museum & Gallery, Settle 2018-2024

Artist & Secretary, Gargrave Annual Art Exhibition 2013-2024

Connecting with Nature, Mill Bridge exhibition, Skipton 2020

GIFT, Christmas Fair, Ilkley Manor House, Ilkley 2019

Yan Tan Tethera - counting sheep, Mill Bridge Gallery, Skipton : solo exhibition 2019

Skipton Art Trial, Craven Arts 2019

Milnthorpe Art Exhibition, Cumbria 2017-2019

Gargrave Art Exhibition and Arts & Crafts Shows, Gargrave, Skipton 2011-2019

Trawden Art Trail, Trawden Artists & Makers 2018-2019

Art in the Mart, Bentham Auction Mart Christmas 2018

Kelbrook Art show, Summer 2009-2018

Ilkley Art Show, 2017

9th International Sheep Veterinary Congress, Harrogate Exhibition Centre, solo exhibition 2017

Granary Arts, Life Drawing Exhibition, Skipton 2017

Pendle Art Fair, Pendle Heritage Centre, Barrowford 2016

Flockmaster's Art, Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes, Wensleydale, solo exhibition 2015

Making a Mark, Yorkshire Dales National Park, Bainbridge, Wensleydale, solo exhibition 2014

Pendle Open Art Exhibition, Pendle Arts Centre, Nelson 2013

Awards

Art prize, brochure cover competition, Horner Shearing Company 2019

BA (Hons) Fine Art 2016

Highest academic achiever in Higher Education 2015-2016 from Craven College.

Winning Landscapes Prize at Pendle Open Art Exhibition 2013

HNC Fine Art 2011