I am not a Robot.

I'd much rather hide behind my art, but everything needs a back story so here's a bit of mine. I've made it intentionally long, and I've omitted all the juicy parts for real time in person meetings. Feel free to skip and scroll down the page to a few worthy bits that matter to me today.

In Amsterdam, 2006 my daughter was born, and shortly after came the move to Poland. It's no understatement to say in this chapter of my life, I was reborn! 
The 'new mum' role highlighted all my weaknesses and strengths, and with those strengths I opened the floodgates to my suppressed creative being. The urgency for colour and paint resurfaced.

I founded WAWA BLA BLA. Emerging from Warsaw's dynamic street art scene and my curiosity, WAWA BLA BLA was a documentation of my urban art discoveries. In late 2014 I published a book and went on to open a vibrant gallery that promoted Polish Graffiti and Street Artists, celebrating the raw pulse of urban creativity. The gallery was a space alive with colour, noise, and freedom.
At the same time I was writing a monthly editorial piece in an English language expat magazine, promoting my host city Warsaw. Fun fact; I've actually held quite a few 'real' jobs over the years. I don't include them in this bio because, while they may have brought me experience and a few great friendships, I realise they have all been temporary moments in my life that are just a means to another end. An end that keeps me on this creative journey.

My move to Gdansk in 2024 marked another turning point. My daughter left for university, and after years of selling my photographs and curating and promoting others, I turned the lens inward, developing my own visual language with paint. A renewed artistic identity emerged.

My art today reflects that transformation and carries traces of both worlds: the bold spontaneity of the graffiti artist on the street and the quiet, sensual, depth of personal reflection.
It is a continuation of that dialogue between chaos and calm, rebellion and grace. 

I paint and create on every material available to me. I am an ardent recycler. I hoard cardboard, plastics, clothing remnants and paper, all for repurposing in my art. I strive to source materials locally in order to minimise my carbon footprint. Mostly I enjoy working on canvas or board. The bigger the better, but I also take delight in seeing a collection of small pieces come together. In my small, but bright, studio space and with an even smaller budget, I consider myself on the right side of life. 
I am not here to behave. I am here to disturb the sheep. Art is the most authentic and rewarding way for me to do that.

I gravitate to creative, hopeful souls. People who motivate and empower me. Particularly like minded and entrepreneurial women. I feel tremendous satisfaction when I am able to support and motivate my peers to reach their goals too.

- Photography is my medium for capturing detail and composition of a 'real' moment that has meaning to me. 

- Paint, Collage and Embroidery are the mediums I lean to for creating a visualisation of my associations with those 'real' moments.

- Abstract and Expressive is my visual language. 

With one Art qualification to my name, a GCSE, you could argue I have no right to call myself an 'Artist'. But the political anarchist in me, who questions everything about the system, especially education, can not concur. Over the past 30+ years, I have sourced learning tools, attended workshops and visited galleries and museums the world over to build my appreciation of art, its history and to gain technical skill. I continue to learn.  The practice through playfulness, getting messy, exploring the process and being around like minded humans is what matters most to me. I like to work on several pieces simultaneously. This satisfies my dopamine cravings, allows me to release all emotions and utilises any excess paint!

I studied business, sales and marketing, specialising in the Tourism sector at Chelmsford, Essex College. I completed my studies and took a full time job with a reputable UK wide Travel Operator. Not long after, I got the itch to move, to see the world beyond Essex and London. I left the UK and began my journey living and working abroad. First America, then the Netherlands and now Poland. I took my paint congealed foldable easel with me. 

Today I'm based in the beautiful city of Gdansk on the impressive, pristine Baltic Coast. I have a home in Amsterdam that is a stones throw from some of the most renowned Art Museums and Galleries in the world. 
Amsterdam and Gdansk have strikingly similar architecture, and as a self confessed chronic day dreamer my daily walks always inspire and feed my imagination. Cobbled streets, upward reaching facades, decorative gables and impressive brick work always take my thoughts to the 17th century, Dutch renaissance and a Golden Age. 

My family now live on the Isle of Wight and my daughter resides in Amsterdam. I visit both regularly.
The mum job is great! I've messed up loads over the years, but not this job. Nurturing her love of books, art and music, while guiding her emotionally to become a bright, caring and creative citizen of the world has been my best work yet! My daughter is officially a book junkie and an expert ice cream eater, achievements that inspire and bring me immense joy each day.

In the words of Depeche Mode, also from Essex, 'let me take you on a trip... see the world in my eyes'.  I welcome you to peruse, purchase or commission my art. Please do sign up to my newsletter, and find out how I navigate my way in today's beautiful and mad world, through brush strokes, words read and music enjoyed.