From an early age I was surrounded by my father's craft. He painted in oils: landscapes, farmhouses, and as his speciality the traditional Hindeloopen folk painting, with those graceful flowers on old milk churns. The love of the craft was passed on to me with my mother's milk, as we say.

In those days I mostly painted what I found beautiful and could enjoy: a picturesque village in Italy such as Camogli, or a fishing boat on the beach. For years painting was my outlet. Until the children came and I went to work: I opened my own furniture shop, Hal 8, and didn't touch a brush anymore.

After the shop I worked for several more years as a photographer and stylist for Spinder Design. Wonderful, creative work, but only when I eventually stopped did I truly notice how much I missed making something myself.

And then came the pandemic: the world stood still for a moment and everything was reset. My daughter, creative as well, came up with an idea from Pinterest to make a textured painting together. We got in the car, picked up the supplies, and I was instantly in my element again.

What began with that one textured painting soon grew: I tried new techniques and painting once more became a steady part of my life. Now, four years later, my studio is filled with my own work and I have had the pleasure of making many a painting and portrait to commission. Apart from a few portrait lessons everything is self-taught: I learn by looking, by trying, and above all by doing a great deal.

Besides sharing my work, what I enjoy perhaps even more is helping people. I come from the interior design world, and how often do I hear: "Choosing a piece of art for my living room? That may well be the hardest thing in my house." That is exactly where I want to help. Everyone deserves a piece that truly suits them: their dream painting.