Born in Shropshire I was raised in rural Warwickshire next door to my grandparents. They, and especially my dad, had a huge influence upon my connection and interest in the natural world and the people who lived and worked in it.

I first wanted to be a herbalist, next an archaeologist but this was not an option back then for most young women. Subsequently I trained in nursing and later social work, employed largely in London in between travelling abroad: working on farms in France, bars in Japan and travelling the back roads of Zimbabwe, always with an eye and an ear for a local song, a curiosity or a dark tale. 

Twenty years ago, one dark snowy night in the Scottish Cairngorms, I decided I needed to ‘change my stars’. I sold my flat in St Albans and moved to Shropshire. I met my husband, Chris, while studying bee keeping and moved into the hills.

After several years of study in the realms of generic folklore, the otherworld and involvement with my continued passion of archaeology I applied for and completed an MA in Celtic Studies with the University of Wales & Trinity St David. I wrote my thesis on the Welsh writings of the 12th century cleric Walter Map reflecting connections between the medieval past and later folklore.

The elemental beauty of  landscapes is most likely as inspirational to us as it was our ancestors. I especially like to work with artists and writers, historians and researchers to bring the humility and passion of the past to life using the natural word.

Currently I am working upon the connections between landscape, folk tradition and history. Traces of the working people, the foot soldiers, the commoners may be found etched into the present within the lines of medieval graffiti in a church or fire place or in the quiet tracings of  landscape and archaeology.

I am lucky to live in the Welsh Marches, a bottomless  cauldron of history, myth, legend and folk traditions from where I draw my inspiration.