I love to see things differently in life: if someone says I cannot do something, I will stop and question- Why? On whose authority can you state that? All my life, I have known the deepest authority lies within- connecting to this Source of all - Source of good and love ( lack of connection feels like its opposite!) is what I have done with everything I have engaged in. From the moment I discovered an ancient book in the quiet corner of an Edinburgh book shop, (day 1 of University, aged 17, first time away from home), where a mother (was she mine in a past life?!) tells her daughter to, “always do whatever you do to the best and fullest of your ability”, I decided to keep this as my personal maxim. I have danced ( from the age of 3, when I begged to go to ballet class) in two dance companies- and now teach little ones Ballet. I have told stories from my heart to my own and countless children, and now I teach children to do the same. I sang before I spoke, and now I can analyse a voice and communicate to my student what they can do to find ease and a better tone… I have learned and taught through action. Watching, intuiting, listening and feeling in my body are my key principles to be the teacher I am.
Everyone has an inner being, full of infinite possibility. I have assumed my job to be that of the human who can bring the voice of the Inner Being out in others. As a big sister, a babysitter, a young mother, a teacher- children have always been my pleasure to work with. It is my belief that children hold power, imagination and internal guidance. They know what they need to learn, what they need to do and how they need to feel. But the parents need this connection back too, so that they can truly be present with their children and build a better world, beyond control agendas.
Invited to study a PhD by the department of Architecture at my university ( I studied 5 years as a Landscape Architect- planning external environments), I knew I wanted to research HOW children learn and HOW they could retain their connection to nature and their inner being. I have worked with children, giving them play exercises to identify what each of them felt to be important in a play situation. Together we have then built many school and kindergarten playgrounds. I have worked with Steiner and free schools, learned form the best ( Stadt + Natur, Germany and Rebeca and Mauricio Wild’s Pestalozzi School). I have studied children’s learning environments, child psychology and worked for over twenty years as a teacher, inspirer and encourager of children. My performing arts career took off in 2000, I subsequently produced and performed three albums and was an actor in various performance pieces in the UK and Germany. My plays and acting pieces have been acted by children for Grade level exams 1-6 for the past fifteen years and the songs and stories I have encouraged children to write have been produced and performed in one of the UK’s top private schools for the past sixteen years.
Colour, structuring space, re-purposing and decorating have been talents I have always been eager to pursue, as a reflection of valuing all resources on our planet. My Art Gallery , 'The Art Tree' was a successful arts centre and gallery for 30 local artists for five years in Somerset. Furniture up-holster, wallpaper panel painting, eco-pigment wall murals, furniture restoration and garden overhauls have been artistic endeavours I have both made income from and practised for myself and my large Air BnB. My famous Great Uncles Rex and Sir Laurence Whistler inspired my love of art, decoration, set design, and writing. My written books were always conceived as a way of resolving and exploring what I felt to be subjects requiring deeper thought and attention in our age. I was first published aged eight. I love being able to bring in new concepts, combine the very best of innovation and bring it to the folk who need it: the children of today and those who are parenting them. I have three beautiful adult children and one little granddaughter. When I look at her exquisite self, I feel viscerally how and why I am here to love, encourage and inspire children. they deserve the world- without fear, without control and without darkness. We are lighting their way! Join me with your own shining selves!
