I was born in Youlgrave, Derbyshire, as the youngest of three children. Unbeknownst to me at the time, the social events of the era had a lasting effect upon my art, and continues to affect the work I do today. My father worked for British Rail, but was made redundant as part of the Beeching cuts in the mid-60s. This impacted many lives and rural communities around me and led to long-term health problems for my father, who later also became blind.

I had a natural interest in the arts and crafts, and developed some of these skills through helping my father cope with his blindness.
Upon leaving school, I attended college on a hairdressing course. There, I developed a further interest in art through a class I took part in, but was discouraged from taking it further.
I married and became a mother of three, concentrating on my children and their futures, but never lost my love for art. It was raising my children that led me to realise the importance of my ambitions. I resumed my practice by attending various evening classes over the next few years, whilst working in the day-time to earn a living.

In 2007, I completed the foundation studies which would allow me to gain my degree – a long-held ambition – but unfortunately, I could not afford to attend university. It was a great disappointment, but I carried on with my work and, two years later, circumstances changed. I gained a place at Sheffield Hallam University, and in 2012 graduated with a first-class Honours Degree in Creative Art Practice. I am now a full member of a-n – The Artists Information Company.

My past has given me the strength to practice my art, and this is reflected in what I do. The importance of the preservation of our cultural ancestry and genealogy are deeply ingrained within my work. I believe the past should not be disregarded, but celebrated as a constant reminder of our evolution in all things and, most importantly, the value of human emotion.