I spent my childhood drawing and making things. I learnt how to use a hand cranked sewing machine when I was very young and loved the rhythm of its stitching. Growing up in historical Hastings I was intrigued by the Bayeux Tapestry with its stitched story telling. 

After studying printed textiles at Winchester School of Art I combined both my love of drawing and machine stitch to make machine embroideries on a splendid electric sewing machine and in 1989 I set up my full time studio practice. 

Working from the Sorting Office Studios in Eastleigh, Hampshire, I make my one-off, Machine Embroideries. The colourful, naïve, and narrative embroideries contain figures and animals set in the outdoors all with their own stories to tell. Inspiration for work is gathered from the world around me, I love people watching!

I am very pleased to say that my work is exhibited and held in public and private collections such as those of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Arts Council Southeast, alongside exhibitions I hold workshops and give slide talks and lectures for Adults, Children and Community groups; I enjoy sharing my love for Machine Embroidery and all things textiles.

I have written two books: Creative Machine Embroidery which was published by A and C Black in 2010 and Stitched Pictures Techniques and Projects published April 2022  A TV appearance on Kirstie Allsop’s  Kirstie’s Handmade Britain was aired in 2011 and is repeated occasionally on More 4