In my mid-twenties some would say I was doing more than my share of “self-discovery”, I tried forest-fire fighting, social & community work, home care, massage therapy, traveling and living all over Canada, studying at three different Universities and yes…I even joined the carnival.

It was in the Yukon that I began to discover the pleasure I derive from working with my hands and letting my creative process unfurl. To pass the long winter nights I made wire jewelery; the whimsical tangle of the copper wire and beads made me want to create larger metal structures that twist and bend in the same graceful way. With this desire seeded in me, I took a workshop called “Metal Working for the Artisan” and felt an immediate connection to the fire and metal. Without hesitation, I bought my own welding equipment and rented out an old barn in the middle of Vancouver and began what would become my passion and my livelihood.

I was largely self-taught in metal work for the first four years which allowed me to hone in on my own style and create a relationship with the metal, learning what it wants to do and what attracts me most to working with it. I have since studied under other metal workers learning invaluable tricks of the trade, and have become a certified welder.

Having found a career path that I can thrive in, I am continuously seeking to develop my skills and networks. I believe in life-long learning through research, mentors and coursework to improve my technical proficiency and design skills. The two grow in tandem; as I develop my metal working skills new possibilities are opened up for my creative process to explore. Other times my skill set is pushed to grow in order to make a concept a reality.