About Me
About Me
Writing and painting have always been my two great loves. My third is travel. I studied English and Fine Art at university and, on graduating, signed up for the Teachers for Botswana Recruitment Scheme where I was lucky enough to be posted to Maun, a village on the edge of the Okavango Delta, a vast wilderness full of extraordinary wildlife. I lived in a rondavel, bought a bicycle, adopted some stray animals, and was never happier. I’ve always been drawn to wild and beautiful places, and now live with my husband and dogs on Exmoor, where the watery skies and constantly changing colours of the landscape are a constant source of inspiration for me. Here we are surrounded by open moorland, steep wooded combes, wild ponies and a dramatic ragged coastline. In my debut novel, Things Don’t Break On Their Own, Exmoor is very much the setting for Robyn’s family home.
Things Don’t Break On Their Own was born from a single line about a dinner party scribbled in the back of my 2020 diary, and I began writing the story in earnest in January 2021. It was a joy. I was waking up at four or five in the morning with lines of dialogue or even entire scenes pummelling round my head, and, unable to sleep, I would creep downstairs to write while the rest of the household slept. I did have company: my beloved ancient lurcher, Siddley, who stayed by my side from the very first word to the last.
In my painting, as in my writing, I’m interested in shades and layers. I like the idea of a painting having a history, and will sometimes wash off entire areas of an unfinished work to rediscover its earlier form. I love storm light, morning light, evening light, low light, and I’m especially interested in the way the light can change everything for one instant, creating ephemeral moments of wonder.
The very gorgeous Harbour Gallery and Café in Porlock Weir currently hold a selection of my original paintings, plus some of my prints and cards. And they make truly delicious cakes!
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