This is me ...
I am a watercolour artist specialising in unusual and innovative techniques. My prime fascination is dramatic northern upland landscapes of the Dales where the geography and geology of each one is clearly different.
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 nature in wild places. I explore various mediums, textures, inclusions and collage to create images that explore a true essence of place, and to refine my creative practice.
In the main I employ watercolour where granulation, texture and serendipity combine with intriguing results. I explore the translucency through diverse techniques where I employ a light, effortless approach, enabling a wet in wet and “less is more” style to lose edges and blend 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.
Aside from my landscape work I paint British sheep breeds and other farm animals with the aim of broadening public understanding of their intrinsic qualities and of northern upland farming practices. These 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.
My style developed both through my Fine Art degree programme and through a range of seminars and workshops attended over the past 15-25 years. I have held solo shows and been selected for a number of Open art exhibitions and led 'Innovative Watercolours' workshops. I opened a small studio in Skipton with the Craven Arts Charitable Trust in 2020 and continue to work from its flagship creative arts centre Craven Arts House in Skipton.
I was a public rights of way officer for the Yorkshire Dales National Park for over 23 years prior to my retirement, gaining in-depth knowledge of the importance and geography of these rugged landscapes and what influences impact upon their environment. My family farming background brings further insight into agricultural life and understanding of how farming has shaped and managed these unique landscapes for centuries.
I was born, brought up, and worked in local government in the Craven area all my life and in retirement 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 am now Membership representative on the Board of Trustees of the Craven Arts Trust Charity.
Where I've exhibited ...
Exhibitions and events … ‘When Words Fail‘ Craven Arts. May 2026 ‘From the Earth’ Craven Arts & NYOS members exhibition April 2026 Blackburn Open 2026 Blackburn Museum & Gallery. 2026 NYOS 2026 showcase exhibition, NYMNP Danby visitor centre March/April 2026 'Present Perfect' members winter exhibition 2025 ‘Traces - Skipton’s history in focus’ 2025 'Vision & Verse' Craven Arts Exhibition 2025 North Yorkshire Open Studios - Spring Exhibition, Craven Arts House, Skipton 2026; and Summer and Winter Art Trails 2026 Idea of North, North Yorkshire Open Studios exhibition, Rural Arts, Thirsk 2025 Gargrave Annual Art Exhibition 2010-2026 - as the Secretary 2013-2024 'Sceap and tun' - Sheep Town solo exhibition Holy Trinity Church, Skipton 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, Lepidoptera, Spring, Legacy of Land, and others 2022-2025 Craven Arts Christmas Exhibition 2015-2018 and 2020-2025 Labour of Love, Land, Lives and Nature in England’s Upland Commons. Dales Countryside Museum, Wensleydale 2024 New Beginnings and other exhibitions Badger in the Wall Gallery, Clapham 2024-2025 Art in the Pen, Skipton 2023 (& 2014-2016 inclusive) Skipton Sheep Day, Holy Trinity Church, Skipton 2023 On Hoof through Hawthorn, Mill Bridge Gallery, Skipton 2022 Give Peat a Chance, Climate Crisis Season, The Folly Gallery, Settle & Cliff Castle, Keighley 2022-2023 Give Peat a Chance, North Pennines Peat Partnership, Dales Countryside Museum, Wensleydale 2022 'Craven Arts takeover', Folly Museum & Gallery, Settle 2022 Artists 'Vision of the Future', Artist profile feature in Yorkshire Dales Review 2022 Artist in Residence, Craven Arts Hub & Gallery, Skipton 2019-2022 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 2019 Art in the Mart, Bentham Auction Mart Christmas 2018 9th International Sheep Veterinary Congress, Harrogate Exhibition Centre, solo 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 Artisan markets and fairs Gargrave Agricultural Show 2025 Craven Arts Makers Fair 2023-2024 Holden Clough Nurseries Makers Market 2024-2025 Craven Makers and Vintage Crafts Fairs, Gargrave 2023-2024 Trawden Agricultural Show Craft Fair 2020-2025 Awards Art prize, brochure cover competition, Horner Shearing Company 2019 BA (Hons) Fine Art 2016 - First - OU degree Highest academic achiever in Higher Education 2015-2016 from Craven College. Winning Landscapes Prize at Pendle Open Art Exhibition 2013 HNC Fine Art 2011