Growing up just outside Ottawa, I began drawing and painting from a very young age, and by 5th grade was drawing realistic portraits of my school friends. I was accepted into the competitive and unique Arts Canterbury high school program, learning from artist-teachers Tim Desclouds, Maggie Spence and others. I began selling commissioned artworks at the age of 14 and took part in several group exhibitions in high school. During the summers, I worked for the City of Ottawa, delivering visual arts programming to the city's summer camps. At high school graduation, I had sold large-scale paintings to a corporate collection and was featured in a local newspaper. 

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I studied Fine Art History in my first year of university at U of T. But I missed drawing and painting, and transferred to the Visual Studies program there, studying under Kim Tomczak, Lisa Steeles, Joanne Todd, and others. I continued to sell artwork on commission and participated in several group exhibitions throughout university. The focus of my academic program was largely on contemporary art discourse, rather than the development of drawing and painting skills. 

 

Nearing graduation, I felt the pressure to choose a career path. I chose medical illustration--a career path I understood. I did grad school and got hired at a medicolegal illustration studio in Toronto.

 

My health started to fail immediately--perhaps my body was protesting my choice, but I did not get the message. I transitioned to freelancing in medical illustration to have more freedom in my daily work routine. Over the next 12 years, I built my medical illustration business, got married, and grew my family all while battling chronic pain, low energy, depression, brain fog and eczema. I was very lucky to have a strong support network in my husband, parents, in-laws, and friends. With my limited energy, I could only do the bare minimum every day to keep my life together. Creating fine art was a distant memory--something I quietly dreamed of but had no drive or energy for.

 

I was just surviving, but I held out hope that I would solve my health issues and thrive again someday. I tried elimination diets, saw chiropractors, physiotherapists, allergists, massage therapists, osteopaths, specialist physicians, energy healers, psychotherapists and naturopaths. Some were helpful, but none seemed to be able to identify the root problem. Finally in 2019, I found an amazing naturopath, Dr. Christina Carew, who never gave up. 

 

After lots of tests and trying many things, Dr Carew successfully treated me for a chronic stomach infection, low-functioning thyroid, low iron, adrenal fatigue, and candida intestinal overgrowth. Finally, in 2024, I feel GREAT. Clear headed, energetic, pain-free, and happy. 

 

At the age of 41, after 15 long years of struggle, my health has returned along with the very strong creative drive I had remembered and wished would return. I feel younger than ever, and I’m now pursuing a career in fine art.