Artist Bio

I am a scientific illustrator by training with a passion for botanical subjects. My interest is in overlooked, rare and unusual plants from all over the world. Using my natural and self-taught fine art talents with my Horticulture degree from Purdue University (USA) my illustrations combine the technical details of plants with a fine art flair.

My love of the outdoors, along with living and traveling all over the world, has enabled me to draw my plant illustrations in their natural setting and habitat. This has allowed me to capture the plant’s essence and surrounding environment while venturing into some very beautiful and remote landscapes.

In the early 1990’s my concentration in botanical illustrating was temporarily sidelined when I learned the art of beadwork. My beadwork soon became a logical extension of illustrating with dimension. I developed my own technique of building up a beaded relief on top of my highly detailed bead embroidery to give depth to what would normally be flat pieces of beadwork. I have begun to introduce of hand fashioned silver and enamel work to the pieces as well as incorporating felting techniques to create one of a kind wearable bead art. My beadwork has won awards from Bead and Button and the 2005 Wearable Expressions exhibition.

Today I live and work in Christchurch, New Zealand. The opportunity to work on site with native plants is what, motivates me to draw, which in turn inspires the beadwork. Representing the natural world in both mediums is a challenge I embrace.

My artwork has been sold throughout Europe, North America and New Zealand. I have done commissioned beadwork and painted illustration pieces for businesses and private individuals.

As an ongoing member of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI) since the 1970’s, I have continued my education in scientific illustrating techniques through their various workshops and conferences. I was Vice President of the GNSI and hosted a guild summer workshop in Idaho. I am also a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists, (ASBA) and the Botanical Artists Society of Australia, (BASA).

I have participated in numerous juried shows sponsored by the GNSI, ASBA, Northwest Flower Show, New York Flower Show, and the Rocky Mountain Rendezvous Botanical Exhibition. 2001 Nature of Islands Exhibition in Tasmania, 2005 Christchurch Flower Festival, and exhibited botanical illustrations in a four person show at the Trish Shaw Gallery, Christchurch. 2006 BASA Exhibition, Flora: The Art and Science of the Plant, Sydney, Australia.   Craspedia 'Kaitorite' won merit at the Margaret Stoddart exhibition at CoCa Gallery in Christchurch, NZ, 2008. In 2009 I exhibited at the Ellerslie Flower Show, Margaret Stoddart exhibition, and the New Zealand Botancial Art Society annual show at CoCA, Christchurch, NZ.

Artwork can be found in:

• Best of Flower painting, North light Book Club, 1996
• Best of Colored Pencil Book, Floral Inspirations, Rockport Pub. 1997
• Hunt Institute’s 10th International Exhibition Catalogue of Botanical Art and Illustration.

My beadwork has been exhibited in the following beads shows: Beadazzled, the Bead and Button Magazine Show, where I won Best in Show, and the 2005 Wearable Expressions exhibition in Palos Verde Art Center, California, and the Teapot Redefined exhibit at Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge Massachusetts, USA, 2007.  'Keeping an eye on you’ received an award at the Fibre Creations exhibition of the Canterbury Area NZ Spinning Weaving and Woolcraft Society, 2007.  Lopdell  House Gallery, Auckland 2008 and Nature’s Jewels,  Waiheke Island 2008.

The following publications contain some of my beadwork: Bead and Button Magazine; Embellishment by Interweave Press; Beader's Guide to Color by Margie Deeb; 500 Beaded Objects, and the Stitch: Contemporary New Zealand textile artists 2006.  Masters of Beadweaving, Lark Books, 2008

Juried the Jewelery section of Wearabale Expressions 2008, Palos Verdes Art Center, CA, USA.

I have also co-authored a book on three-dimensional beading. Now available.