About me and my art

Welcome


Hello there, I’m Norma, a mixed media artist from Northern Ireland. I am delighted to welcome you to my little corner of the world where most days you will find me in my studio doing what I love most - making art.

Why


I thought I knew the trajectory of my life. But a number of years ago, shortly after the sudden loss of my eldest brother, my mother developed dementia. Like many others in similar situations I found myself taking on an unplanned caring role.

My path in life had been suddenly and irrevocably changed.

Over the next few years I began to feel a pull towards creativity as a coping mechanism. That, combined with time spent in nature, was my guiding light through those days of darkness.

Art brought me back to myself. Now I paint for the sense of freedom, joy and peace it gives me. It is definitely my happy place.

How


Every piece begins with time spent in nature.

I gather my inspiration from the myriad of emotions I experience there, from wild and free to calm and contemplative and everything in between. I soak up the colours, sounds, textures and feelings.

Photography is a large part of my process. I will capture numerous images on every field trip. Some may become the inspiration for a piece, others will find their way in as part of the composition.

I am particularly drawn to the beauty and strength of trees and the freedom of birds. Both of these elements can often be found in my art.

Back in the studio I will build up many layers of colours and marks to add depth and history and imprint my memories of the place into the work.

I never know exactly where a piece is going but it will let me know when it is finished. When I stand back and look at it I am transported to the landscape, the beauty, the peace, the sense of connection and contentment.

My hope is that my art will inspire similar feelings within you and remind you of the importance of nurturing your own soul.

A short history

For those who want to know a little bit more


The only girl in a family of five, I grew up on a farm with with lots of freedom, open countryside to roam, trees to climb and space to dream. It was pretty idyllic. I learnt to knit and crotchet and cook, I was an avid reader from an early age, a writer of poetry and a lover of animals. I suppose I have always been creative but not in a way I thought of as artistic.

Time moved on and I became a nurse, got married and had children. Life took me on the journey I expected for quite a few years.

I rediscovered creativity later in life as a way of coping with grief and overwhelm. It fills me with joy and gratitude that I now get to do something I love every day. On the surface it is very different from what I used to do, but when I dig deeper I can see the continuation of what has gone before.

We don’t always notice the common threads running through our lives. In my work life I have always had some level of involvement in health care and an interest in how to improve wellbeing. First as a nurse and midwife, then when my children were young I trained in a number of holistic therapies - relaxation, aromatherapy, massage therapy, reflexology and baby massage. When my children went to school I worked in the charity sector providing parent support groups and teaching parents baby massage. I took a couple of years out to home educate my son who has dyslexia, before returning to the charity sector and training
volunteers to support parents within the home. In all of these roles I was learning and teaching methods to support physical and emotional wellbeing. I was helping build emotional resilience in others but also in myself. I became aware of the importance of paying attention to our own wellbeing and the benefits of taking responsibility to care for ourselves or to seek help to enable us to do this. I think this is what helped me find ways of coping when a major traumatic event happened within my own life. It is also what led me to
art and the benefits of spending time in nature.

When I realised how important art was in my life I dedicated myself to learning and developing my skills. I sought out mentors and teachers to help me. My journey started with photography and digital art. I began to combine my new skills with my poetry and in 2018 I published my illustrated poetry book Thunder in my Soul. It truly was a labour of love and remains a project I feel a strong connection to. In 2020 I discovered painting and mixed media and I now combine those with my photography. I have found my ‘happy place’.

Part of my wish for my art is to encourage others, especially those who are in overwhelm and weighed down by the expectations put upon them, to step back and allow themselves time for some self care.

Spending time in nature inspires me to create uplifting art which conveys a sense of place. Each piece is created to bring the positive aura of nature into your home and encourage you to take a moment for yourself.

N.B. the music in the video on my home page is from Bensound.com