Postcard credit: John Byrne
Art college days
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This photo was taken a long time ago. But I think that it captures how I feel about making art, even after so many years.
I still find it magical that simple materials like paper and paint can be transformed into something beautiful and hopefully, inspiring to others.
I work mostly with traditional materials such as pencil and watercolour and love to illustrate animals, nature and food.
More recently, I have been working with hand painted papers which I cut up to make illustrations, sometimes mixed with vintage papers. The results can be surprising and if you are ever in a creative slump, I thoroughly recommend getting out your paint, scissors and paper and have yourself a collage party!
I studied Drawing and Painting at Edinburgh College of Art and didn't really start focusing on illustration until I moved to Montreal.
I wanted to work from home once my son was born. so I began by illustrating Christmas cards for a Montreal company and from there, was lucky to get some children's book illustration projects.
In addition to book illustration, some of my work has been licensed for giftware such as greeting cards, notebooks and napkins. It is always a thrill to see my art printed on products that people want to have in their homes.
Since moving back to Scotland a year ago, I have developed my own range of greeting cards and notebooks. They are inspired by the nature around me, which is constantly changing. Every day, there is something new to see.
Like many artists, I work on lots of different projects, including teaching, and I feel so lucky that I get to do this for a living.