Painting Brush Strokes with Soul and Story

I’m a gouache specialist based on the Kapiti Coast of New Zealand, where I’ve been steadily evolving my artistic voice while staying true to my love of light, form, and colour.

In my recent figurative work, light plays a central role—it’s the storyteller, gently revealing key elements of a scene while allowing others to rest in shadow. I’m drawn to fleeting moments of everyday life: people walking along the beach at sunset, enjoying coffee at a café, or simply pausing to take in the view. These scenes often carry a quiet intimacy and evoke a strong sense of place.

Gouache has been my medium of choice for decades. I use it to build layered compositions with a soft, velvety finish that balances precision with gentleness. Natural light and shadow—especially in outdoor settings—are recurring themes in my work, giving it a warm, often nostalgic tone.

My journey with gouache began over fifty years ago, during my training and work as a tracer draughtswoman in both New Zealand and the UK. In the early 1980s, I deepened my artistic practice while working in an art supply and gallery space. By the 1990s, my love of design and gouache led me to study soft furnishings through the City and Guilds program in the UK. In 1996, my garden design portfolio for the English Garden School’s correspondence course was awarded distinction and retained as a model for full-time students.

Each piece I create is crafted to evoke memory and emotion—resonating with viewers and often sparking cherished recollections. Through recurring motifs and subtle storytelling, I aim to reflect the essence of Kiwi culture and the beauty of everyday moments, offering a window into both familiar and dreamlike worlds.