Since my husband and I retired and moved here late in 2009 I have found so much fantastic visual inspiration in this wonderful county that I now intend to focus more on landscape, seascape and weather conditions; no doubt fitting ponies in wherever I can! One day soon I hope to get a surfers' van with a sliding side door so I can get closer to the countryside whatever the weather and experiment more with response paintings while the tea is brewing!!

My loyal Dylan, the little black Labrador, always accompanies me on my visits to the moor and is now so chilled around the foals and lambs that I can trust him to stay put if I wish to get in close. Getting close to these animals is an important part of my being and always gives me an incredible lift.

I also have a passion for life drawing and believe it has given me a strong base for everything that I do. When teaching (or "facilitating" artists in workshops now that I am supposedly retired!) I impress upon everyone the benefits of having a nude amongst us. It is a honour to draw a nude and I have had many fabulous models help me and my students on the road to becoming better artists.

Of course I haven't mentioned the coastline and the sea! Gallons of it here, and having studied Fashion in my youth I find many similarities in the rock formations, all draped over the landscape. Every cove here surrounded by green velvet skirts! I'm looking forward to painting it all!