Born in  Lebanon and having spent much of my childhood abroad, at school, the art studio became my home.

 

On leaving, I studied architecture in London back in the 1980’s and worked for a time in the Royal Academy of Arts as the assistant to the Surveyor. An amazing man who wasn’t just my employer, he was my mentor and great friend. When I eventually left, he wrote: ‘Don’t take care, live dangerously and never be bored’. I just love that, and I now understand exactly what he meant.

​

After my time in London, I dived into a whirlwind of creativity and adventure, studying graphics and illustration, teaching theatre set design, and even squeezing in a TEFL course. Then came a backpack, a plane ticket, and six unforgettable months living, working, and travelling through Canada.

 

Back home, I trained as a teacher and spent three wonderful years teaching secondary school pupils in Art, Craft, Design and Technology. It was a rollercoaster, sometimes tough, always rewarding, and full of those moments you never forget. But I have never been one to sit still.

 

My next chapter was the Royal Air Force. Sixteen years of stories, places, and people that shaped me. I learnt to sail, ski, and row, and I travelled the globe. My only regret was not once picking up a paintbrush or pencil during that time; it really was a whole different world.

 

The move to Devon turned another page in my story. It brought joy, challenges, and, most importantly, the rediscovery of my creative self. Returning to the studio felt like coming home. Now, art is not just something I do, it is who I am. It is the space where I find my happiness, my focus, and my freedom.