Biography: From Grease-paint to Oil-paint

I was born in South Africa and spent the first third of my life there and the second third of my life in England. (Last third still to come)!

I was an actress for most of my adult life both in South Africa and the UK, (BA Speech and Drama, about 10 film roles and many, many theatre parts, some TV roles and about 20 TV commercials) but I always drew and painted, initially gaining an A in Art for High School Matric. Once I had a child (the adorable 10-year-old Alfie) I stopped acting and took up painting professionally.

I spent five years painting nothing but flowers ‘English Blooms – South African Roots.’ I held exhibitions in Primrose Hill and at the Sloane Club in London, Bell Fine Art in Winchester, and various shows in galleries such as Lyme Regis and Stroud. Colour was the fascination – and I will go back to flowers when the time is right.

While on holiday in Bequia I painted furiously and I am pleased to say that all of my Caribbean paintings were sold out in one exhibition.

About three years of my creative life went on hold while I joined the ‘real world’ of business. And even though it was the relatively gentle world of toys, it was too scary for a sunbeam. Hence back to the much loved smell of oil-paint.

My new collection (and current obsession) is the movement of birds in the air and over water. When I first moved to England, I owned and lived on both a wooden boat (Richmond) and a steel Humber keel (Kew) so equally interesting to me is the effect of yachts and boats between sky and water. Most of this new collection was sold this year at a one night exhibition in Cape Town, South Africa. Hence the decision to release a range of signed limited editions.

Mervyn Stutter is my much loved husband (of 16 years already!). He is a founder member of The Flying Pickets, and a comedian, songwriter and scriptwriter with his own shows performed regularly on BBC Radio 2 and Radio 4, as well performing live around the country with his one-man shows.

Most of my work is now on display in Bournemouth where we live a few yards from the sea-front – perfect for boats and birds of course.

Although a website cannot be as effective as seeing the real thing, I nonetheless hope you have enjoyed browsing through my work.