Growing up in the vibrant subtropics of Miami and the lush Irish countryside really shaped how I see the world, attuning me to subtle shifts of color, texture and pattern. Those early childhood influences continue to guide and inspire my work today.

I began my art career painting and exhibiting fantasy landscapes. Drawn to a love of pattern, I became a textile designer for the apparel industry.  Patternmaking feels instinctive and meditative to me, a way of bringing order to chaos.

My interest in animals and their habitats led to my work as the author and illustrator of nonfiction picture books for children. I enjoyed mixing a sense of realism with playful pattern, detail and luminous color. I reveled in capturing both the character of animals and the little details that make them special.

My years in textile design, book illustration, and painting have shaped how I build an image. I work in layers, mark by mark, until I feel the scattered parts of an image seamlessly connect.

Now my vision is wandering into more whimsical, imagined territory, returning to the playful, inventive spirit that first drew me to painting. At the heart of it all is the same sense of wonder and curiosity that have always inspired me. I hope to invite viewers to share in that joyful discovery.