Biography

I have often said “Art isn’t what I do, it’s who I am”, and for me, this is so true.
Even as a child lucky enough to grow up on my parent’s farm in rural northern Alberta, I ‘felt” art.  The beauty of the nature that surrounded me daily; quiet walks in sunshine filled river beds, late evening harvests surrounded by the soft golds, browns and reds of the tree lines and sparkling winter mornings when the brilliance of the hoar frost made every tree appear to be covered in a fresh blanket of diamonds.  Who wouldn’t be inspired?  Seeing the art and beauty in everyday things inspired me and became a part of me.
I began creating what I saw at a very young age, perhaps 8 or 9 and entered as much as I could into local country fairs and contests.  I was obsessed.  A few years down the road I was commissioned to draw ‘situational’ cartoons for our community history book as well a many various art projects.  It seems that once word gets out there is an artist in the community, everyone has a project for you.  I always managed to keep busy with creating.  In high school my focus was on art and I had the privilege of creating murals for our high school gymnasium, and cafeteria and again, various other projects in and around our community. 
Once I graduated high school, life took on a new meaning.  I believe in our modern times, it is called ‘adulting’.  Employment in our rural area was scarce in the 80’s and I found myself relocating to Dawson Creek B.C., in search of work.  What I found there was even better……the man of my dreams, Rick Coombs.  I decided to make Dawson Creek my permanent home, settled down, married and started my beautiful family.  I dedicated myself to my family however creating was always in my blood and on my mind.  I did what I could, when I could in between soccer games and dance practises.  I taught myself woodworking and tole painting for a time, designed and built wooden yard signs, created pressed floral designs and even managed to draw the occasional fine art piece.  Occasional meaning one every two years.  Life was busy….but wonderful!
Over a period of 9 years or so in the 1990’s, I had the great pleasure to work as a professional picture framer at the best little frameshop/art gallery/art supply store, this side of anywhere….Picture It Framing and Gallery.  Under the guidance of my best friend and owner, Audree Nelson, I learned so much valuable information;  Framing fine art and just about anything else, art materials and what they do, original reproductions, art history, gallery showings, the world of limited edition prints and reproductions, all things ‘original’ and how to handle them, sales and marketing.  It was Art 101, A to Z and I loved it!!!  It was undoubtedly the best art education anyone could ask for and I treasure and am thankful for those years.  As life goes, Audree retired and sold her shop and I moved on to a few entrepreneurial enterprises with my husband Rick.  Grand children started arriving and life again took on new meaning.  Sometime around 2011 “Shabby Chic” grabbed my attention.  It was new furniture craze at the time.  Old and unloved furniture was purchased, repaired and painted to look like new/old furniture.  I launched my new business “Shabby Chics and Treasures” and as the first to do so in our area. I enjoyed six very fulfilling and lucrative years of restoring and refinishing antiques as well as buying and selling antiques and collectibles.  Hubby and I spent many hours on the road, searching out treasures, furniture and antiques to bring home and supply our area with.  We were the OG’s of Canadian Pickers for Dawson Creek and area….Good Times!!  And all the while, Shabby Chics and Treasures was flourishing, which totally fulfilled my need to be creative.
But all good things must end apparently and my eye health was failing me.  Shabby Chics and Treasures must close.  I was pretty devastated and spent 3 years having and recovering from various eye surgeries.  However, I am happy to say that my vision is currently better than ever!
Which brings me to today.  Life is quite different again.  When one door closes another opens right?  A few years ago I was diagnosed with an uncommon disorder known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity or Environmental Intolerance.  In a nut shell this means that I am extremely sensitive to all fragrances, chemicals and toxins that this old world has to offer.  Therefore, home is my only ‘safe’ place and I found myself house-bound with little to no contact with old friends, social situations are out of the question and I even have to limit my contact with family.  So what does a person do??  We search for that silver lining, that’s what we do.
A quick trip to our basement revealed so many art products I had collected over the years.  I thought that perhaps pastels would be a safe medium for me to try out, no smells or toxic odors and dang if I just happened to have two fresh, never before used, sets of Conte pastel pencil sets and a beautiful pastel pad to work on.  That was October of 2019 and I haven’t looked back.  My need to create is once again being fulfilled ten-fold.  I honestly could not think of a better way to have to spend this constant and on-going self isolation.  At 56 years of age, I can now reflect back on my life thus far and see that my mom is so right when she says..... “Everything happens for a reason”.  Although some of my circumstances are unfortunate like not being able to spend as much time with my wonderful adult children Kailey and her husband Riley, my son David or my four amazing grandchildren; Berkley, Bentley, Lenyn and Liam, as I would like, other aspects are pretty sweet. 
I am able to immerse myself in my artwork which has always been a happy place and also ‘who I am’.