Whilst my Five siblings played WWF and watched 'Saved by the Bell' you'd find me curled up with a stack of interior paint colour charts or a wooden French knitting doll. Living and moving around from Wales to Dorset to Munich, Pennsylvania USA and back again meant we were often renters, forbidden to touch the house- sending my imagination wild with endless possibilities for the spaces we inhabited. It might be where all this began, but I think its just in me-
Dressing tables for special dinners, filling old jars to make presents, jumping to hang decorations! Conversations with lace cloths, ribbons and paint-chipped old chairs are my comfort and contentment.
Knowing nature as a healer and spirit lifter, I blur lines between inside and outdoors for everyday living as much as possible. Fresh air, sunshine, wild flowers, frothy meadows, deliciously fragrant herbs and pocket bursting pebble collections from our windy cliff top walks. I love walking barefoot, earth between my toes but a growing collection of wellie boots is always lined up just in case!
Married to a garden designer in the North East of England with our 2 young children, we immerse ourselves in the rich culture coastline and country gems- constant Inspiration for my large hand painted plant pots, recycled garden side tables and sourcing unique garden furniture and accessories. All of this with my photography and editorial have featured in Living North Magazine in an 'Ask the expert' article on gardening!.
Its fun finding new homes for agricultural style objects, galvanised tubs, hand tools, milk jugs, watering cans, reclaimed iron benches, weathered wicker, woven baskets and white washed stone walls.
Farrow and ball colours are my idea of heaven and a joy to paint with bringing new life to forgotten cabinets, reclaimed picture frames and salvaged doors, I collect cake stands and treasure inherited crockery by getting it dressed up with pretty cakes!
I like contrast -cobwebbed sheds for hiding in and vast gallery spaces flooded with light get my heart. Monochrome, blue green greys of Industrial bridges and waterways, nuts and bolts and brushed metallic. Anything and anyone that has a story, vintage books, boxes, instrument cases, tin cans, glass bottles, hand me down clothes. All these things, like our natural world are to be cared for preserved, kept beautifully and enjoyed.
Private work has lead to commercial connections and Styling on set for Producer Sarah Lauder whose campaigns include Marks and Spencer, Anthropology, Dobbies and the David Beckham whisky, Haig. Also, The Leith Agency Scotland, a fully integrated Award winning creative agency of the year in London and Edinburgh, specialising in Design, Branding and Advertising media.
It was a dream to recently work with Photographer Clive Nichols, 'Britains best Garden Photographer' to put together sets- al fresco dining with lots of glassware bursting with lemons and a rockery of succulents, heathers and alpines. My wish is to just be me, making things beautiful with like minded creatives who look to the next adventure...
