I think of myself as a painter and author, in that order. I was born at my grandparent's house in London, England, in 1965 and immigrated to Canada on a steam ship in 1966. It was a rough crossing, and my mother later told me that the stewards fought to look after me as all I did was sleep to the rocking of the ship. My father met us in Montreal and I settled down with my parents in the Nation’s Capital, one a cleaning lady the other a spy.

 

After a colorful gap year in Europe, I returned to Canada to attend the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto disguised as mild-mannered Ian Van Lock and studied Fine Arts. The program included a year in Florence, Italy, where I was introduced to the magic of the Renaissance.

​

After graduating, I worked for Barclays Bank and in 1992 I narrowly escaped death in a terrorist attack on my workplace when a bomb was detonated in my building. This life-changing event made me decide to pursue my art career full time. The now famous Gherkin is where my former workplace was destroyed, a monument to my decision. It is today one of the City of London's most iconic modern buildings.

​

Throughout the 1990s I traveled with rolled up paintings, selling work in the United States, Britain, Switzerland and the Netherlands. During this time, I had exhibitions in Florence, San Francisco, London, New York, Miami and Fort Lauderdale. By the year 2000, my work could be found on every continent but Antarctica.

​

Since settling in Ottawa, Canada, I have completed numerous public commissions and established Art in the Park, now the New Art Festival. This annual art festival has grown to become Eastern Ontario's largest and recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.

​

I am driven to create paintings, drawings and books. My work stays forever young. I want others to be able to see what I can see; that is my gift to the world.

 

I live with my husband and four cats in Ottawa, Canada. My hobbies include traveling by ship, mapmaking, and drinking tea. I am never bored.