I think of my art as a collaboration with nature, with colour and form in the painting, bringing the landscape to life.

I have been drawing and painting most of my life. My parents first gave me a book on how to draw children when I was about 6 or 7 years old and I still have the book. It is all in Dutch because I was born in the Netherlands and our family migrated to Australia in 1959.   

My first impressions of the Australian bush have always remained with me – the colour and movement of the gum trees, the sound of the magpies and the dry dirt under foot.   Many have said that the Australian bush is harsh and unforgiving. That’s true in many parts but there is another side of the bush that captures my imagination. That is the soft green/blue light towards the end of the day and in the mornings, the resilience of our bush and its ability to recover after bushfires and its pleasing sounds as you wander through and listen to the rustle of the trees and the bird songs.  

We moved to Sydney for five years (1990 - 1995 )and there I was fortunate to meet Jan Vincent an amazing artist who taught me everything I know about watercolour. 

I have spent the vast majority of my working life in science. Majoring in biochemistry, working as a biochemist, researcher and eventually setting up a research and teaching centre at Swinburne University on sustainability and climate change. The work at the National Centre for Sustainability at Swinburne (2001 - 2011) was very satisfying because the people I worked with were dedicated and passionate about their work.   

In early 2010 my painting career took off in earnest. I joined the Artist Group in Port Melbourne  and have been inspired and supported by the many artists who are part of this group convened by Anne Esposito.

I now teach watercolour and run regular workshops in Melbourne, Australia.  

I paint most days and have grown to love the discipline of painting. There are times when I am completely unaware of my surroundings and find great joy in the process.