the joy of Living a creative life

My path to becoming an artist

I understand first-hand the pain of not living a creative life 

I wasn’t always an artist. I was born in England and began my career in the City of London before moving to California to work in technology companies. The freedom of the West Coast led me on a journey of self-discovery and, eventually, to uncover the Creative Spirit within me —pushing me to awaken. 

For many years I denied, ignored and repressed my soul’s urge to create.

It’s a feeling that begins as a dull ache and can reach an intolerable level of discomfort, even to the point of breakdown. 

As I tended to the whisperings of my soul, reconnecting with my love of art but abandoned at age 13, I took art history and studio painting classes with some of the best teachers I could find —at UC Berkeley, in San Francisco, and in LA.

I volunteered in the Arts, co-produced art exhibitions, and immersed myself in the world of how art is made and sold, moonlighting as an art advisor before founding an art consultancy firm —Blue Tangerine Art —sourcing contemporary art direct from artists studios, galleries and dealers for collectors, designers and architect firms.

It was my dream job… Until I walked the halls of Art Basel Miami Beach art fair one year, and had an epiphany:

I was searching for a painting that I myself would have to make! One that was joyous, colourful, inspiring and uplifting —one that was filled with positive energy. 

The sort of painting I’d like to hang in my home.

And so at this pivotal point, I changed directions.  I asked my mother, who is also an artist, to teach me how to paint.

Once I discovered art —Something I’d loved all along but hadn’t given attention to — I found a deep sense of fulfilment for the first time in years

With great patience and kindness, she commented on the paintings I made in California from her home in England, and we began a dialogue of critiquing the paintings I was making. I am deeply grateful for her wisdom and for introducing me to her teacher Robin Child, whose own teacher was taught by the 20th Century painter Walter Sickert, and who in turn was a pupil of Whistler and Degas.

At some point every artist must chart their own path and make their own art that is the true expression of their own essence.

I did this in California, where the light and space calls for a more vibrant palette with pure colour in more saturated tones. To this day I very rarely use black allowing the healing frequencies of pure colour to emanate from my canvas.

As my creative awakening deepened into a spiritual path of conscious awakening and a quest for the truth of who I Am.