Artist

I hold a PhD in educational psychology and have worked as a teacher, teacher educator, author and researcher. My academic work has generated national media coverage and was used to inform State education policy. 

My career was derailed, however, when a degenerative eye disease caused me to become legally blind. To restore my sight I underwent transplant surgery on each eye and, thanks to a highly skilled surgeon and the generosity of two organ donors, I now have good vision with glasses in one eye. 

The 'sum of my parts' (my age combined with that from my donors') is more than 175 years; with my oldest transplant coming from a woman who was in her mid-80s.

I have always loved animals, gardening, drawing, and making things. Worsening vision, however, had made many things difficult and less enjoyable than they once were. I had all but given up on drawing when a family friend inspired me to try and make sculptures instead. 

I found that using wire was a lot like drawing a picture, but I can feel what I am looking at. This tactile feedback has allowed me to ‘draw’ the animals I admire in a unique way and I regularly discover new techniques to enhance my practice.

I share my artworks with my local community by installing many of them in areas visible from the street. The joy that my sculptures have given others is what inspires me to make more.

Losing and regaining my eyesight has led me to reconnect with the natural world and the wonderful native animals we share it with. I hope that through my art, I can encourage others to re-engage with nature too, and I am aware of the irony that I attempt to do so by placing something artificial in it.