I live in the north-west of the South Island of New Zealand, but grew up in Whanganui and Wellington, training in journalism before I left for the lights of London at 23.  ​​In 2020, I returned to New Zealand for a long-planned sabbatical, driving 17,500 gorgeous kilometres.  ​As a practising artist - and encountering something of a personal spiritual revival - newly enchanted by the quality of New Zealand's light and scenery, I was led to make Tasman my home.

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Spirituality

Fascinated by the power of combining contemplative, mindful practice and action, I qualified with the London Jesuits in 2024 and now offer their ancient method of spiritual formation.  Mostly I work virtually 1:1 with individuals once a month around the world.  Ignatian Spirituality offers an astonishingly contemporary and personal transformation through a sort of pilgrimage or school of prayer and spiritual living called the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius.  ​I'm working on tailoring the Exercises into shorter retreats and pilgrimages in everyday life.  I am also developing workshops for artists and creatives, combining my main skillsets with a passion for facilitation and empowerment.

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On entering spiritual direction, my life deepened and expanded in ways I could not have anticipated.   I have discovered that a contemplative life is far from sitting still.  Quite the opposite.  I am still committed to sharing the very best of what I have learned and trained for. 

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Commerce

​I trained as a journalist and latterly enjoyed a certain success in corporate life working at senior levels in public relations and communications for international PR agencies and for organisations including the Financial Times and The Chase Manhattan Private Bank.  I was managing director of a London-based financial public relations business before retraining in 2000 as an executive coach and worked as a facilitator of groups in organisational change in Europe and the Middle East.   These days, I am beginning tod explore ways to support economic development in Tasman so that the more disadvantaged people in our society can find dignity through work and those more monied can make a meaningful social contribution.  That's the dream anyway.  

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Art

• Member of the Motueka Arts Council

• Member of Motueka Pottery Workshop

• Finalist in the Tasman National Art Award, New Zealand (2021)

• Member of the Nelson Suter Art Society since 2021

• Shown work at the Mckee Gallery in Nelson Suter Art Gallery and Purpose Gallery, Mapua

    Self-taught in England, including courses at:

• Dulwich Art Group & School

• Heatherley School of Fine Art

• Royal Drawing School, Shoreditch, London

• Writing a novel keeps eluding me

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We shall not cease from exploration 

And the end of all our exploring 

Will be to arrive where we started 

And know the place for the first time 

Through the unknown, remembered gate

When the last of earth left to discover 

Is that which was the beginning

At the source of the longest river

The voice of the hidden waterfall

And the children in the apple tree 

Not known because not looked for 

But heard, half-heard, in the stillness 

Between the two waves of the sea.

TS Elliot, Four Quartets 

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