Miniatura

My love of miniatures began some 40 years ago when friends took me and my children to visit a miniature museum. Although the children loved it, I was totally hooked from that day on and could not wait to try my hand at making things to scale. I have always been creative but until then, it was as a portrait artist and trompe l’oeil painter.

As we all do, I starting off with small, simple things, but in time I found that I really enjoyed making character dolls. This developed to eventually creating entire scenes, mostly involving working class character figures going about their everyday activities.

I received my first I.G.M.A. Artisanship in May 2004 for figures. In November 2007, I was awarded my Fellowship for figures and simultaneously received a second Artisanship, this time for costuming. This eventually led to my exhibiting and teaching within Australia which ultimately gave me the confidence to travel overseas to international shows.

Inspiration comes from many sources – books, movies, history, nursery rhymes and fairy tales. Faces come from people I see literally everywhere. It is an interesting endeavour to try and unobtrusively take a picture of an interesting face without seeming too obvious! I have a passion for costume and history books which I find invaluable, as I strive for authentic accessories to enhance any scene. I love to use antique fabrics and laces and I am always on the lookout for just the ‘right’ piece.

Each of my figures are 1/12th one-of-a- kind creations individually hand crafted without the use of molds. Although it takes many hours to create a figure, after so many years it is not the time consuming endeavour that it used to be, now, it is the creation of the scenes and accessories that fill my days.

I once had a lady purchase a figure because it resembled her husband! He is an avid train enthusiast and, because my figures are all poseable, we arranged him kneeling on the floor playing with trains! Much to the delight of the said husband. I’m told that its still the centrepiece of their collections (both train and miniatures!). My greatest pleasure at a show, is seeing the smile on someone’s face as they approach my table. What more can one ask for than to bring pleasure to another person?

I take great pleasure in the making of my figures and vignettes and it is my hope that you will get as much enjoyment seeing them at the show. I look forward to once again not only meeting old friends but also making new ones.