Crafted in the wild places.
On canvas, in ink, with hands that remember.
From the African tropical forests to the Highlands of Scotland.
Raised amidst the lush tropical jungles of Zambia, my childhood was a wild symphony of tree-climbing escapades, mud-covered adventures, and an untamed spirit. Those formative years, with their vibrant sounds, intoxicating smells, and kaleidoscope of colours, now serve as the bedrock of my artistic expression and storytelling.
Within the first five minutes of our encounter, it becomes apparent how deeply Africa has shaped my identity; I can't help but share the profound impact it has had on my life and creativity.
Blessed with parents who nurtured a spirit of adventure, I was encouraged to push boundaries while always prioritising safety. This ethos propelled me across the globe, allowing me to experience life on five continents before finding my cherished home amid the enchanting highlands of Scotland.
Ghosts at My Shoulder
Whenever I sit down to write or paint, I feel them with me.
Not in a spooky way—though I quite like the idea of a few ghostly figures peering over my shoulder, curious about what I’m working on. It’s more a sense of connection. A quiet presence. The feeling that I’m not creating in isolation, but continuing a thread that stretches far beyond my own lifetime.
Art has always felt like a kind of remembering. A way to reach backwards while moving forwards. And in the quiet moments of making—when the world fades and I slip into that familiar flow—I often find myself thinking about the people who’ve shaped me.
My brother. My nephew. My parents and grandparents. The generations whose lives echo in mine.
Family has always been central to who I am. So much of what I do—whether it’s telling stories, capturing a moment on camera, or layering paint onto canvas—is done with the hope that they’d be proud. That I’m honouring something they passed down, even if I’m still figuring out exactly what that is.
The walls of my home are filled with reminders: paintings from my grandmother and great-aunts, gifted by family or found in unexpected places. Old photographs. Portraits of my great-grandfather, still holding space like quiet witnesses. Even my name carries echoes of someone before me—a namesake whose life I’ve pieced together in glimpses and half-told tales.
Creating is how I stay connected. It’s how I listen, even when no one is speaking. And maybe, just maybe, it’s how they check in on me too. This isn’t just about art. It’s about legacy. It’s about letting their stories thread through mine—and maybe leaving something behind for whoever comes next. A gesture. A memory. A hint that we were here, and we cared.
The lifecycle of art
I believe that all art has at least two lives. The first is when the creator dreams it into being. Pouring a part of themselves into the creation; giving it life, meaning and emotion. The artist leaves a part of themselves in every creation and has the creation live within them forever.
The second, and all subsequent lives thereafter, is when you see that creation and it causes you to pause and reflect. A stopping of time where the art speaks to you. You don’t have to purchase the art for it to be a part of you, and for you to have given it life. But this is the urge I feel comes when you can’t stop thinking of the artwork and you just have to have it in your life.
You have given art multiple lives.
Memberships & Affiliations
Through the lens
My faithful camera has been my companion for decades, evolving from capturing moments around the house to documenting the beauty discovered on leisurely walks and, eventually, throughout my global travels. With every click, I pay homage to my great aunt, the spirited adventurer, whose love for National Geographic and passion for framing the world through her lens ignited my own photographic journey.
In her spirit, I've traversed the vast landscapes of Australia and New Zealand, embarked on thrilling safaris in Africa, and wandered through the enchanting, winding streets of Edinburgh. What began as a visual diary transformed into something more profound than mere image capture—it evolved into the art of encapsulating memories. Each photograph, a timeless snapshot, not just of a scene but of the emotions and experiences etched into the tapestry of my life's adventures.