B. 1944, Jemmeritz, Germany
Based in Germany
As a visual artist, my work spans drawing-based mediums and sculpture, employing a process-led approach where I layer pencil drawings and paint to allow each piece to evolve over time. I often work on multiple pieces simultaneously, layering texture, shading, and pattern. My process is slow, deliberate, and highly tactile—using the marks of graphite and colored pencil on a textured surface that I create through sprayed paint layers.
The themes in my work often circle around the female body, with a focus on how it defies and responds to the male gaze and societal expectations. I explore this through representations of voluptuous, mutilated, aggressive, and restricted forms—bodies that are both prudish and sexualized. Another recurring motif in my work is the stairway, inspired by visions from a near-death experience from my childhood.
My work is held in both private and public collections, such as the University of Bremen and the Art Library, Kunstausleihe in Bremen. I have exhibited internationally in cities including Berlin, Bremen, London, Bristol, and Cornwall, with notable exhibitions at the Bristol Museum, Kunstverein Bremen, and Kunstverein Osterholz-Scharmbeck.
I’ve received several awards over the years, including from Pelikan Art Supplies for a poster design. In the realm of sculpture, I was honored with an award from Erdal Rex Shoe Cream for a design in their Art for Advertising campaign.
Early in my career, I worked as a graphic designer and illustrator, during a time before the digital age. Much of my work involved hand-drawn mock-ups and sketches, including the design of fonts by hand. My illustrations appeared in Spiegel Magazine, and I also created advertisements for various companies. I illustrated children's stories, fables, and nursery rhymes for publishers like FAX PAX, in addition to my own children’s books.
In 1987, I founded a hand-painted ceramic tile business in Cornwall, where I combined traditional painting techniques with a modern approach to minimalist glass-melting designs. My work included commissions for murals and panels for Sloane Square Tiles, as well as international clients such as the Prideaux-Brune Family, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, the granddaughter of Enid Blyton, the El Fayed family, and Gleneagle Hotel. My installations can be found in homes and buildings worldwide, including locations in the UK, UAE, USA, Germany, and France.
Throughout my career, my work has been featured in several magazines and publications, including Architectural Ceramics Society, Country Living, Homes & Gardens, The Guardian, and The Cornish Guardian, as well as in the book Decorative British Tiles: Craft and Studio Tile Makers by Chris Blachett.
Alongside my visual art practice, I have always written stories and anecdotes, often exploring themes of escapism. Recently, I’ve written stories reflecting on my experiences growing up as a refugee in Germany, drawing connections between past and present social and political realities. I’ve also authored a series of children’s books featuring a family of mice living underground. Most recently, I contributed to Artist’s Letters by Michael Bird, translating letters from Gustav Klimt.