About

I am moved and informed by an innate need to play and discover. As a small child I walked around like a crazy baby-scientist and caught, killed and dissected small animals and insects. My father gave me a small set of precision cutting tools and a pair of gloves and I set off daily to discover something new. I dissected cockroaches, frogs, mice and rats. In latter years when I did a Bachelor of Science degree with Zoology as one of my main subjects I was delighted when we dissected sharks. Apart from my fascination with the anatomy and physiology of all living things, I was also very much a tomboy-outdoorsy child – I would walk around (mostly on my own) climbing trees or playing with rocks, mud, dust and water while talking or singing to myself. I still do this to this day … wandering off into the woods, singing & talking to myself whilst picking up or just touching, smelling and examining leaves, mushrooms, shells, skeletons, feathers, stones, rocks, tree bark, moss and small insects.

My ‘talent’ (for a lack of a better word) for sculpting was discovered while sitting on a river bank while the children were fishing. I picked out some of the clay-like mud and made small figurines. None of the other adults who attempted to make something could get it right – it was then suggested that I start sculpting. I enrolled in evening classes at Studio Visio Art School with Barend Grobbelaar. I had the honour of working with Barend for roughly 3 years before I relocated to the Western Cape. Once here, I embarked on a solo journey of trial and error and continued to play with clay without taking life or the journey too seriously. The focus remains to be on fun, play, experimentation and freedom of expression.