I moved to Donoughmore with my three children seven years ago. Having searched for quite a long time to buy a suitable property with outbuildings, my search came to an end at the top of a hill. I knew straight away that it was the right location and home, renovations started straight away on the outbuildings as the main house was just perfect.

As soon as work was completed, I moved into my new studio. It was such a wonderful feeling to finally have the space and atmosphere to create in as, up to that point, I had worked like many artists - in a dining room, kitchen or wherever possible.

Mosaics were at the forefront of my artistic expression but again, up to that point, painting in oils had been my passion.

I felt mosaics were not being exposed enough and I wanted to prove to myself and to others that they could be looked upon as a painting, but of course be far more durable. I started building up my collection with the Vogue Ladies each 4′ x 2′ and a design based on a Villoroy and Boch tea service, then went onto seascapes, landscapes, mythology and sculpture using a huge, diverse number of tesserae (tiles) all imported from Italy and London - my favourite being ‘Smalti’, a handmade tesserae from Venice. Commissions then started to come, both public and private.

During this time the passion for painting reignited and when i met fellow artist John Walsh I picked up the brush again.

We both work and live together now up on the hill, our new gallery opened on December 16th 2006 and we are both working on a number of commissions and running courses.

At present we are preparing for a summer exhibition during the Kilkenny Arts Festival whilst also preparing for an exhibition in Brussels in 2008.