I love to draw, paint and print. I have worked as an art teacher since 2006, and started my PGCE straight after my Visual Communication degree. I am a member of Leeds Print Workshop and have used their facilities to create drypoint etchings.

Keeping a sketchbook is really important to me, they are a space to collect and explore and visually play. My work is eclectic and I create at my kitchen table, often in the company of my two small children. I have taken part in the Kirkstall Art Trail, which is a good motivator to create new work. Colourful, messy abstract backgrounds are just as appealing to me as fine detail and I don’t think I have a typical style because I enjoy learning new skills all the time.

I take inspiration wherever I can find it - nature is a recurring theme. I also like to photograph interesting textures and colours (for example the side of a bottle bank). One of my earliest memories is being obsessed by portraiture, and drawing members of my family while they were watching TV. I would curl up under the TV and draw in my sketchbook. Having not done any for years, I am revisiting family portraits now that seeing each other is that much rarer.

My current work also includes botanical illustration, and collaborating with my kids on whatever they are currently inspired to paint. I am working in a small concertina sketchbook, drawing pairs of earrings from observation using sepia pens. This is inspired by the Shed Project by Lee John Phillips, and is very much about drawing to relax. I find it interesting how the second drawing in the pair looks different to the first one. Trying to capture the shapes, colours and textures is like visual problem solving. I find it hard to get time to create work, so am not very good at sharing it yet! I have just started posting my earring drawings on Instagram and may build up from there, it’s always inspiring to see what others are doing.