It all began with a family holiday to France. Visiting the beautiful French harbour of Honfleur I came across a painting by an artist that became an inspiration to me. The colours, the naive style, the whimsical nature and sense of fun encapsulated in that one painting made me think I'd like to paint the place I live and the places I go like that.

So, one fine sunny day on a visit to Ramsgate, trusty camera in hand I went and took loads of photos - buildings, harbour, beach, seagulls, things specific to that place anything that caught my eye really. Then I went home and started sketching - not particularly fussed about accuracy but wanting what I drew to be recognisable as Ramsgate and capturing something of the uniqueness of that place.

It took me quite a while to get that painting done, mainly because I was working full-time in a school at the time and most days I finished work exhausted! Then last year in April I had to leave work to support my daughter who had been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and was struggling to keep up with the demands of secondary school. While the demands of this meant I could not work, I found also that I had more time on my hands, time which I began to employ in painting. The results are all the paintings and cards you see here on my Etsy shop.

Every print of every painting you see here has gone through the same process as that first painting of Ramsgate. I visit the place - very important! To get a true sense of a place that comes through a painting the artist needs to have been there and walked it's streets. I take photos. I stop and look - I need to be able to notice things. I go home and start drawing, playing with the photo's I've taken, with my observations. Finally when I am happy I get a canvas and start to play with colour.

Painting finished, it's a trip down to the local fine art printers in Wye where care is taken in scanning and proofing the image and in the choice of paper on which to print - I use 308gsm Photo-rag paper as it brings out the vibrancy of colour I use and quality of ink which needs to be light-fast (not prone to fading) and to an industry recognised archival standard. Conversations are had and great care is taken to make sure my print, the one I sign and put my name to and the one you order or the card you buy is faithful to the original painting.