The places where I’ve lived and travelled have strongly influenced my art. Here, in the lake and woodland region of Ontario, it is the shifting patterns of light in the myriad blues of water and infinite greens and golds of the forest. While living for several years in the American southwest, it was the vast blue sky sweeping above an expansive land with red rock cliffs, and the Navajo women I met who weave extraordinary rugs in an array of geometric patterns.

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I’ve always loved colour and pattern in nature, and explored ways to convey through art the underlying rhythms, geometries and symmetries of organic and inorganic forms. This feeling for colour and pattern and also a study of diverse non-Western art traditions continually informs my textile art and painting. The book Weaver of Worlds by David Jongeward tells the story of creative process underlying my early tapestry design and weaving.

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I studied at the Royal College of Art in London, England, where my MA research included principles of sacred geometry and a cross-cultural study of traditional textile design symbolism. My doctorate from University of Toronto focused on the facilitation of adults’ creativity within supportive groups. An arts fellowship from the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute launched a period of  travel, research and writing on issues concerning sustainability of artisan livelihoods in many countries, including India, Thailand, Turkey and Tanzania.

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My textile art has been exhibited since 1974 and is in collections in Canada, United States and England. My paintings have been exhibited in solo and group shows since 2000. I’ve taught workshops and courses in tapestry design and weaving, and colour, design and creative process. The exploration and innovation involved in creative processes is a constant inspiration for new works.