My Grandfather was Russian and I have wonderful memories of the Orthodox cathedral I went to regularly with my family. The dark interior was so mysterious in the candlelight and I was enchanted by the icons, richly coloured, gilded, and bejewelled.

I bring these memories, together with pieces of my past, into my paintings in a very direct way. Incorporating vintage buttons from my mother’s sewing basket, my father’s old coin box, my huge collection of sea glass, shells and pebbles picked up on my travels around the world, ceramic shards from ancient gardens in England and France together with Venetian glass smalti, I encrust my painted panels with glittering gilded bands

I embed my carefully chosen pieces, many of them irreplaceable, across the surface of my paintings and then wrap them in 22 carat gold or aluminium leaf; rubbing back the surface to reveal vibrant colours, rich textures, images and patterns. Like alchemy, the glowing micro-thin metal transforms my materials into desirable treasures: old worn coins become miniature renaissance portraits and faded seashells are transformed into tiny sculptures.

Working to commission I can incorporate your own precious pieces into my painted panels or jewellery to create something entirely new and beautiful.

I have a BA Honours Degree (2/1) in Woven Textile Design from Loughborough College of Art and Design.

Following time spent sailing in the Caribbean; working in high fashion and as a secretary I married and had two sons. I spent time at home and realised that I needed to find a new means of self-expression. So I attended a course at Hampstead School of Art and studied traditional decorative painting techniques. I learned to gild and to create effects such as marbling, graining, and lapis lazuli. On completing the course I was asked to teach beginners and furniture painters. I also developed and taught a course for another local art school.

After two years of teaching I went into partnership and set up the ‘Special Effects’ studio in Highgate. We taught students at all levels, worked to commission, and sold painted furniture. But after 18 months I knew that I really wanted to paint full-time. I was fortunate to find a studio at the Chocolate Factory and moved there in mid-1998.
Since then, I focused on developing my skills as a glass painter and exhibited in regularly in London and showed work in New York, Salt Lake City Utah and in ten Japanese cities including Tokyo and Osaka.

Recently I’ve become drawn towards using more conventional wooden supports. Inspired by mosaic materials and techniques and by my large collection of found objects; I’ve been making a new series of paintings which bring pieces of my past together into my work. I’m also rediscovering some of the skills and techniques I acquired while working as a decorative painter.