I trained as a Costume Designer/Maker and now I spend my time making costumes, clothing and other sewn items for stage and individual customers, as well as designing and making jewellery, doing illustrations and working part time with a local costume collection.
I get inspiration from history, the natural world and artists or artistic movements that I admire. I'm particulary fond of the Arts and Crafts Movement, William Morris, Japonisme, Indienne printed cottons and embroidery, antique lace, 18th C. botanical illustrations and silk taffeta. When I'm not hunched over a sewing machine, desk or computer I am usually outside in my garden with a book, or in the kitchen baking, depending on the weather!
Favourite Visual Artist
Mucha, Charles Dana Gibson, JC Leyendecker, John Bauer, The Pre-Raphaelites
Favourite Movies
House of Flying Daggers, Inglourious Basterds, Chicken Run
Favourite TV Shows
Supernatural, True Blood, Fringe, Band of Brothers
Favourite Bands / Musical Artists
Dire Straits, John Powell, Journey, Foreigner, Classical Film Scores
Favourite Books
Good Omens, Maurice, Sherlock Homes Stories
Favourite Writers
Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Arthur Conan-Doyle
Favourite Games
Age of Mythology, Sims 3
Favourite Gaming Platform
PC
Tools of the Trade
Photoshop CS, Wacom Intuos 4, Copic markers, pen and ink, watercolours, pencil crayons.
Other Interests
Costume, history, baking and cooking, reading.