I have been a working artist, art instructor and published author since before moving to the Kootenays.

My preferred artistic language is line though I am also a printmaker. Drawing communicates directly with viewers, often more quickly and intuitively than speech. My drawings focus on simplification, abstraction and exaggeration to facilitate design and flow of line; moving away from the representational to focus on beauty of line. The subject evokes the inspiration to put the line on paper.

Foci of recent drawings may be summarized as: Studies of gesture and related contour; Relationships between subjects in a drawing; Reduction of subjects to one or a few lines; Interplay of interesting lines, overlapping lines; Variations within lines.

I work primarily with ink and graphite to create the lines and their variations, sometimes using conté or adding color to a work to benefit the composition. Subjects of the drawings are living things, plants and animals, wild and domestic, and the human figure. Subjects are simplified to a few lines describing their gesture, action and connection with others in the drawing. I draw animal portraits; also animal, horticultural and human subjects that inspire line creation. The drawings are created with reductive line, using the line's variation and flow. In some drawings a major line, or lines is/are supported by secondary lines defining the subject. Recently I have also been making paper cut pieces, using color-contrasting papers as part of the design.

My works are exhibited and sold in one person, group, juried, club, and gallery collective exhibitions, also art rental and sale programs. They hang in collections in Scandinavia, Great Britain, China, the USA and Canada.

Original art works plus reproductions and cards of my work are sold in Castlegar at "Yes Please", a shop owned by Catherine White.

As an art instructor I teach Drawing, Poster Design for Scientists and Art Appreciation for University, College, Art Gallery, Night School, Community Center and private students.

My book, “Butterflies and Butterfly Gardening in the Pacific Northwest” is sold at Lee Valley Tools stores and website as well as in the shop "Yes Please".

Grants: I have received grants from the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance, the most recent of which was inspired by the song "You've Got to be Carefully Taught".

Recent Exhibitions

1. My work has been accepted by jury for exhibition at Pynelogs Gallery, Invermere for 7 years in a row including 2018.
2. For the last several years my work has been included in Grand Forks Gallery 2's Art Rental/Sale program.
3. Annually I participated in the Kootenay Gallery's Christmas exhibition and exhibited work there.
4. Annually I participated in Castlegar's Art Walk both in solo exhibitions and with group exhibitions.
5. I was a member of the Creative Edge Gallery collective, exhibiting and teaching through that gallery, until the gallery left town.
6. My work continues to be exhibited and sold through the shop "Yes Please" in Castlegar.

Exhibitions and Events separate from annual participations:

2013:

• Participated in Wells, B.C.'s Imarts exhibition
• Initiated, presented and participated in an Art Benefit fund-raiser for Castlegar's Hospice Society.

2014:

• Participated in Port Moody Art Center exhibition.

2015:

• Artist in Residence at Nakusp campus Selkirk College.

2016:

• Commissioned to demonstrate and exhibit work for Kootenay Native Plant Society's Camas Day event and exhibition.
• Artist in Residence at Nakusp campus Selkirk College.
• Participated in "Yes Please", a Christmas shop (inaugural year) owned and run by Catherine White of Catherine's Glass.

2017:

• Work chosen for travelling exhibition initially shown through Kelowna Arts Center and Art Gallery for "Breast Feeding Art Expo". This show travelled until summer 2018.
• Participated in "Yes Please", a Christmas shop for a second year.
• Participated in Coquitlam's Place des Arts' "Positively Petite" exhibition.

2018:

• Participted in Coquitlam's Place des Arts' "Positively Petite" exhibition
• Exhibiting at "Yes Please" year round.

2019:

• Solo exhibition of collection called "Relationships" or "Connections", completed with assistance of CKCA grant, at Place des Arts, Coquitlam during month of May.
• Continuing to exhibit year-round at "Yes Please".

As an Art Instructor I taught through galleries, for university and college courses, (for both credit and continuing education), for school board night schools including as a coordinator, for recreation centers and community centers and privately.

I wrote and illustrated my book "Butterflies and Butterfly Gardening in the Pacific Northwest". Some photographs are mine. 6 others contributed pictures. This book is sold through Lee Valley Tools both in-store and on-line and at the Kootenay Gallery.

I also wrote, illustrated and published a cookbook.