Personal interests
When I was studying for my PhD, and working as a professional development specialist, I found that my brain was constantly firing in the left hemisphere – the logical one.
So, my sister came up with the idea that I should do something that developed my right brain as well – the creative side. This, she thought, would balance me out a bit!
With this in mind, she booked us both on a stained glass course at Starlight Studios in the heart of a Gloucestershire wood. Our teacher was an extraordinarily talented
stained glass artist - and spiritual guide (although I’m sure that wasn’t his intention!) - called Rod Friend; and he is now a friend in reality. Having left Gloucestershire,
he lives and works in Spain. You can find him at: http://www.rodfriend.com/ If you click on the "courses" link, you will see my first effort at making a stained glass window.
I used my favourite bird, the snowy owl, for my inspiration.
Here are some of my pieces.
This piece is of an angel being rescued from the mire. As she is being pulled out, she is able to express herself fully. Often, we try to rescue
ourselves but it is so much easier if someone is there to assist – as are the hands in the top portion of the window. Actually, this was inspired by a window in the
cathedral at Chelmsford which was designed by Henry Holiday in 1905.
This is a circular piece that Rod’s wife Alice recognised as a significant integration of the male and female in animal form that represents an
emergence into wholeness. If you start from the top and go round the window clockwise, you will encounter the maleness of the eagle, the femaleness of the fox and the
combined essence of both represented by the dolphin. The purple flame is the flame of transformation and it holds the dove of peace.
This is supposed to be the essence of me!
A natural landscape for a kitchen window.
I designed this window for my great friend 'Bottle' (name of endearment!) who loved her dog Rosie very much. Capturing Rosie's character was one of the most
challenging aspects of creating this intricate piece. It is given with my love.
This was a recent project I completed in Spain with my teacher and friend Rod Friend. It represents a journey into the unconscious.
This is a copy of a medieval piece in York Minster.
This was inspired by the mountainous terrain in Andalucia. The soaring eagle is representative of taking a wider perspective on life, deciding what to go for and
going for it - both gracefully and incisively!
This is a door panel that was designed for a wonderful friend who saw five herons the day she found her house in Switzerland, overlooking Lake Geneva. It includes some symbols that her family find meaningful. The jumping salmon, the full moon, a Rosemary bush, the butterfly and a cat. The window also features the elements of air, water and earth; an overall integration of life and the family.