Born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, I was raised in the Ottawa Valley and have lived most of my life in Nova Scotia, and am now an artist, award winning picture book illustrator, and author. I have had a strong visual orientation since a very young age, and a concern for social justice issues from a family involved in civil rights for the underprivileged. I was quite inventive, making things from scratch and found materials, and well grounded, spending a lot of time close to nature. Academically, I leaned toward the arts, and completed a high school program equivalent to second year art college. I was very interested in fine art, but joined a printing company as layout artist instead, and was soon general manager. From there I became resident artist for Canadian University Services Overseas before starting my own graphic design business which grew to become a full service communications design firm. Later I returned to drawing and painting, and began illustrating picture books.