“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales.”
- Albert Einstein
“I have always loved to tell stories!”
As a child, one of my favourite things to do was to use my Dad’s blank journal books to make handmade, illustrated storybooks for my younger brothers and sisters.
We grew up on a farm (before the days of mobile phones and widespread internet). When we weren’t building tree houses or running through the fields and forests, I was either making doll clothes and miniature furniture with my sister or creating new artwork for homemade storybooks.
I was fascinated with all the classic fairy tales, such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and the Little Mermaid, as well as musical plays such as ‘The Nutcracker’ and ‘Swan Lake’.
“I believe that the best storytelling pushes the boundaries of plot, setting, beauty, suspense and ambience, but then sprinkles it all with an insatiable helping of glorious humour!”
Early Years
I was raised in the Bonnie wee countryside of Scotland for most of my childhood. I am of mixed heritage, originally with roots split evenly between the United Kingdom and Denmark (my father is British and my mother is Danish).
My passion for Nordic and Germanic folklore is largely attributed to my Scandinavian roots. I also have a deep connection to British heritage due to my upbringing in the UK.
I grew up in a very large family (two brothers and eight sisters). We spent our early years living on a farm in the beautiful Scottish hills on the outskirts of Livingston.
Growing up in nature (and with so many siblings) had a huge impact on the stories that I write and the art that I create. It allowed me to experience a ‘bird’s eye’ view of how social dynamics and human psychology can play out within a complex and lively family environment. It was an incredible childhood, filled with nature and a wide spectrum of unique, varied, and vibrant personality types.
It is something that I will always be grateful for.
How Art has Shaped Me
After leaving home, I moved to London and worked as a model in the fashion industry for twelve years. During this time, I had the privilege to work with some of the best creatives in the world.
Working in fashion taught me a great deal about self-worth and perseverance. It also showed me that ego is the biggest enemy of true creativity.
I observed that true art was simply a by-product of those who have learned to truly and unapologetically be true to themselves.
After this period, I wanted to be ‘on the other side of the canvas’ (so to speak), particularly branding and storytelling, so I moved into sales and marketing.
Sales taught me a great deal about psychology. This later proved pivotal in helping me formulate realistic characters for my stories and paintings.
A few creatives that have truly inspired me include Gene Kelly, Vera-Ellen, Tchaikovsky, Gil Elvgren, Banksy, Michael Angelo, Hans Zimmer, C. S Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien. 
A Love For writing
I am a self-taught artist/writer, perfecting my craft for over twenty years (often in my spare time).
I view my work as ‘old world meets new world’ and specialise mostly in oil paintings. I also have extensive knowledge of Photoshop.
Please note: I do not use AI technology in any of my prints or paintings.
What am I presently working on?
I am currently working on my first fantasy novel called ‘A Glimpse of Numa’.
It follows the tale of a hidden world on the brink of civil war, where the unlikely quest of a young fae may prove to alter the fate of both Numa and Earth forever.
Follow the story here!
If you would like to help fund the development of this novel, you can show support by telling a friend, purchasing a print from my Shop or visiting my Contribute page.
It really does help a great deal, and I truly appreciate all of the support! ❤️
And with all that said, I thought I’d end this with a statement that summarises how I feel about the power of honouring and owning our creativity…
“Art cannot be measured, controlled, or contained. It can only be a perfect interpretation and reflection of the creator who made it, a person who is simply telling a story, from their unique perspective, and in their own, unique way. Art is the by-product of an internal journey of discovery where we find and ascertain who we truly are. When we choose to share that internal process, it becomes our art and our automatic contribution to the world.
Art is a solid commitment to remain true to oneself. It is an act of courage, a quest of relentless self-discovery paired with the bravery and commitment to tell your story. Because of this, it will always remain the ultimate symbol of creative freedom and personal truth”.