I have been drawing and painting for most of my life - on and off! Mainly self taught I have always found it a great way to unwind. In 2009 I was unfortunately diagnosed with leukaemia and for over a year I didn't paint anything. Once I started again it was wonderful to loose myself and my first effort was a simple drawing. My next, appears in my gallery, and was from a photograph taken a couple of months before I was diagnosed but not painted for nearly 14 months. I am now trying to branch out a little more and although I will always love to plaint flowers and associated scenes, I am trying my hand at pet portraits.