Initially I trained as a teacher of Food Technology in the 1970's then later trained as a ceramicist at Goldsmith's London in 2000. I became interested in icons at about the same time & later I combined the two disciplines in a Celtic cross using crank stone clay. I chose iconic figures from the Gospel as did my Irish forebears on the High Crosses.

In 2006 I moved up North West near Lancaster from Slough. I had taught at St Bernard's in Slough for 40 years and I enjoyed it greatly! I had planned to continue Ceramics at my new Community at Hyning but it was not possible so Sr Mary Helen arranged for me to do an icon course at Turvey Abbey where Sr Esther provided the teaching of icons and meditation on icons. I was gripped and so when I went home I continued. Later we had a course with Sr Esther at Hyning and so the small Hyning icon group started and has continued ever since.

I loved going deep into the spirituality and purpose of icons which enriched me at a deep level. Richard Temple, Aidan Heart, Guillaume Ramos Poqui and especially Peter Murphy, who led our group over five years to improve our technique. Just before Covid started was our last session with him.

I have since written icons for individuals, schools, churches in the UK, America, and Ireland. I am always daunted when I start off the icon but as I pray it becomes possible and, as the face emerges, delightful. When difficulties arise I pray and leave it for making the right adjustments. Although we have an Art room set up for guests I generally work in my cell where I can concentrate better.

I do enjoy the challenge of teaching people to write icons and we generally have two five day sessions a year. In the session I explain the symbolism of the icon and the fact that icons are theology in line and colour. We have a good library of icon books to support this. The icon group meet every Wednesday for Midday Prayer with the sisters and then we have an icon session. We are currently going to write an icon of a saint and have an exhibition in our Church in the summer.