The medium and the message: each hold equal weight as I work, testing the possibilities of materials to convey an idea. My initial training in tapestry reinforced the hand-eye connection that drives a passion for the texture, colour, pattern and detail in my painted work. I have worked with all types of paint, but recent experiments with traditional egg tempera painting give weight to the images I create from dreams or past experiences. Collage and drawing underpin initial investigations, resulting in sketchbook ideas which become surrealist compositions. These compositions will eventually guide me in the final painting stage.