From a very young age I loved to make marks. Wallpaper lining and paints were consumed in vast quantities and I loved the blackboard that my dad made.I thought about a career in art on many occasions through my teens but was steered into teaching and I loved it. As a primary school teacher I could experiment with a wide range of materials with the children and introduce them to artists and techniques. At home I produced pastel landscapes of the lakes, selling them occasionally.When my children were small, my own art took a back seat but I still got to play with art materials as I painted and crafted with them.As a professional development officer for Cumbria’s Education Authority, I was privileged to introduce a wide range of artists into local schools and I always enjoyed taking part and was inspired by them all.Now my children are grown up I am approaching art like a child again; full of curiosity and play. At the moment I use acrylics with a sea sponge and sponge stick to paint on canvases and canvas paper but I am always experimenting with different implements and learning new techniques.I have reopened my eyes to the natural world and love to wander with my camera, searching out landscapes and abstract images that are beautiful in their simplicity without any manipulation.