For anyone who wishes art appreciation could be more light-hearted and entertaining…

Every painting tells a story. Every painting has a story. Behind each and every image there was a living, breathing, personality who made decisions about what to paint or how to fulfil a commission. My aim is to bring these stories to life and in doing so introduce the weirdness as well as the wonder of art, and the artists behind it, to people who didn’t realise it could all be so exciting.

I should confess that I do find some pleasure in barely penetrable academic texts. I studied art history at the Open University for my first degree, and received a first-class B.A. (Hons), winning an award in the process. Academia wasn’t behind me at that stage and I went on to complete an M.A. from London’s prestigious University College London. When I was awarded a distinction I did a little dance, and then cried!

Now my job is to translate my knowledge into entertaining art tours and art experiences so that you can learn about art in a hugely engaging way without even opening a text book. Join me in person for a gallery art tour, or for a virtual art tour on line.

There’s more if you’re interested…

If you’d like to know more, my flirtation with art and art appreciation began in Paris in the early 1990’s. During the course of a year, I discovered the fabulously louche post-impressionist art of Toulouse-Lautrec in the artist’s quarter of Montmartre, and roamed the corridors of the Musée d’Orsay, loving a lot and understanding only a little.

In my 20s and early 30s I was a tour guide and quite by chance ended up sort of following the well-trodden path of the 18th century Grand Tourist. I discovered much of Europe and eventually travelled further afield, visually devouring everything from sculpture to art installations to altarpieces, from Berlin to Beijing and back again, before settling in London.

Once in London I found my spiritual home at the National Gallery and became a frequent visitor whilst working in events with both corporate clients and some fabulously wealthy individuals. It was interesting but it wasn’t my calling.

Then one day, browsing the internet in my dressing gown, I discovered the Open University.

The rest, as they say, is art history.

What are art tours with me actually like?

​I was once described as a ‘sassy raconteuse’ with ‘wonderful insight into the paintings’. I’m really proud of that. Whenever I research a work of art to talk about, whether for a gallery art tour or a virtual art tour, I weave together narratives, tales about the artists (if they’re scandalous, so much the better), and tantalising glimpses of life behind the canvas so that you don’t just learn about art but enter a whole new world.

Come and join me, I’ve always got a story to tell!

If you’re interested in a gallery art tour, click here. For a virtual art tour, click here.