I guess I have always been creative, right from a very early age. One of my first memories is making a pen holder for my father’s desk out of egg cartons and paper. It was painted blue and pink, and had sequins and shells stuck all over it. I remember being so proud of it. Things have progressed a little since then.

Throughout my childhood and teenage years I always had some project on the go, from papier mache to quilting, collage to wire sculpture, and everything in between. Growing up in Wellington with it’s rich and diverse culture opened up so many opportunities. In my late teens I trained as a leadlight glass artist, working with beautiful European and American glass, designing and creating bespoke windows and lampshades. My love for creativity was nurtured by this wonderful medium, with the huge range of colours and textures in the glass and the infinite design possibilities. While working in this field, I still continued to explore and learn, taking as many night classes and workshops as I could. One of those classes was silversmithing. I had been making basic silver jewellery for a few years and was selling my pieces at markets and to friends. Taking this class opened me up to a whole new set of skills and ideas. The ability to forge, mold and manipulate metal into tangible objects is fascinating. I love that I can melt down a pile of scrap metal and rework it into something beautiful and unique. After moving to the South Island in 2001 I started work as an apprentice manufacturing jeweller and over the next five years was trained in traditional gold and silversmithing techniques.

Now, after numerous exhibitions and many more night classes and workshops, in metalwork, picture framing, pottery and screen printing, to name a few, I am back in the North Island and working out of my studio in Levin in the Horowhenua District.

Colour and texture are still a huge influence in my work, as are my natural surroundings. My work is impressionistic, simplistic and can be almost cartoon-like. I am highly influenced by the work of American jeweller, Tim McCreight, whose teachings set a standard to strive for, although I do still enjoy the idea of keeping my work as uncomplicated as possible, life is too complicated already to try and add more layers to it!

Exhibition Record
Nature and Form, Te Takere Levin September 2019
Pinehaven Art and Craft Exhibition, Upper Hutt 2017 & 2019  
Art In The Park, Levin March 2019
The Village Gallery, Wakefield February 2016 – December 2018
World of Wearable Art Entry Wellington 2012
Junk2Funk, Carnegie Gallery Hokitika 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
NZ National Jewellery Design Expo, Michael Fowler Centre Wellington 2006, 2007, 2011
NZ Rock and Mineral Club National Competition Greymouth 2008
Fusion, Carnegie Gallery Hokitika 2005