MY STory

My story begins at art school in Falmouth, Cornwall, UK. Searching for inspiration, I became captivated by the brightly-coloured microscopy images in the medical books in the library. I made a collection of Cell Paintingsin my first year, sparking a fascination for biology that has remained with me ever since.

Upon graduation, I took a job as a Cryobank Scientist at an infertility clinic in London freezing sperm to be used in treatments. I studied science A-levels in my spare time, eventually securing a place to study first BSc(hons) Molecular Cell Biology, and later PhD Physiology at University College London. I worked my way up from a postdoctoral scientist studying the cardiorenal system (kidney and heart) and reproductive endocrinology (hormones) to a Kidney Research UK Intermediate Fellowship at the University of Bristol. I later led a Research and Development team developing kidney models for drug development applications at a biotech company in Newcastle.

You can read more about my journey in mySciArt profileon the Node community site, hosted by the Company of Biologists.

Below are some of those original art school Cell Paintings…

'Pink Cell Drawing' (1999) Watercolour, oil pastel, pencil & felt-tip pen on paper.

'Pink Cell Drawing' (1999) Watercolour, oil pastel, pencil & felt-tip pen on paper.

'Embryology II' (2000) Oil, enamel and paper collage (an eye) on canvas.

'Embryology II' (2000) Oil, enamel and paper collage (an eye) on canvas.

'Orange Cell Drawing' (1999) Ink and oil pastel on paper.

'Orange Cell Drawing' (1999) Ink and oil pastel on paper.

'Purple Cell Drawing' (1999) Ink and emulsion paint on paper.

'Purple Cell Drawing' (1999) Ink and emulsion paint on paper.

'Blue Cell Drawing' (2000) Ink, enamel, oil pastel on paper.

'Blue Cell Drawing' (2000) Ink, enamel, oil pastel on paper.

'Bone Structure' (2000) Enamel and emulsion paint on paper.

'Bone Structure' (2000) Enamel and emulsion paint on paper.

'Black Angry Cells' (2000) Ink and wax crayon on paper.

'Black Angry Cells' (2000) Ink and wax crayon on paper.

'Left Ventricle' (2000) Enamel and emulsion paint on paper.

'Left Ventricle' (2000) Enamel and emulsion paint on paper.

'Small Brown Cell Drawing' (2000) Felt-tip pen, watercolour and ink on paper.

'Small Brown Cell Drawing' (2000) Felt-tip pen, watercolour and ink on paper.

'Embryology I' (2000) Oil on canvas.

'Embryology I' (2000) Oil on canvas.

'Purple Cell Drawing' now hangs in a seminar room in the Learning and Research Building at Southmead Hospital, Bristol.

'Purple Cell Drawing' now hangs in a seminar room in the Learning and Research Building at Southmead Hospital, Bristol.

'Purple Cell Drawing', 'Pink Cell Drawing', and 'Compartmentalisation' were exhibited at Bristol Bright Night (2015), a science public engagement event at We The Curious, Bristol, UK.

'Purple Cell Drawing', 'Pink Cell Drawing', and 'Compartmentalisation' were exhibited at Bristol Bright Night (2015), a science public engagement event at We The Curious, Bristol, UK.

'Purple Cell Drawing', 'Pink Cell Drawing', and 'Compartmentalisation' were exhibited at Bristol Bright Night (2015), a science public engagement event at We The Curious, Bristol, UK.

'Purple Cell Drawing', 'Pink Cell Drawing', and 'Compartmentalisation' were exhibited at Bristol Bright Night (2015), a science public engagement event at We The Curious, Bristol, UK.

'Pink Cell Drawing' now lives on Level 7 of the Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, UK.

'Pink Cell Drawing' now lives on Level 7 of the Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, UK.