After almost 8 years working in various admin posts for my local Council, I realised that I needed a change of direction.  

Influenced by my late father, art has always played a part in my life. I would spend hours drawing and painting as a child and be fascinated by my father's numerous books on the subject. I left my last admin post in 1999 to go back into full time education, first to do an Art Foundation Diploma at Tameside College and then on to a BA (Hons) Degree in 3 Dimensional Design at Manchester Metropolitan University. I graduated in 2003.