​​​​​
"The vibrancy of nature runs through everything I create. It never rushes, yet everything falls into place—that’s what fascinates me. With joy and a bit of boldness, I bring its power and calm to life with my brushes"
​
I was born in 1979 in Hilversum, the Netherlands. Before I turned one, I lost my mother, and because of this I grew up in a rather gray and subdued environment. Fortunately, I was surrounded by the warmth of my grandparents. As a child, I was sensitive and insecure, but deeply connected to the natural world around me.​
​
The mother of my best friend had a beautiful flower garden, and it was through her that I was first introduced to the joy of creativity. She helped me discover the power of painting, not only as a form of self-expression and individuality, but also as a safe space where I could retreat and feel at home. Despite this early connection, my insecurity held me back from fully embracing a creative path. After grammar school, I chose to go to university rather than pursue art school.
​
My academic studies weren’t a great success, but my time as a student was rich in experience: not least because it’s when I met the love of my life, Dirk-Jan. From that point, life became much more colorful. I built a successful career in communication and business events, which gave me confidence and fulfillment in a different form.
​
It wasn’t until 2018 that I returned to my creative roots and began training at the Classical Academy of Fine Arts in Groningen. I completed the program four years later. During this period, Dirk-Jan and I moved to a farmhouse in rural West Betuwe. After the pandemic, I rented a studio nearby in the charming town of Asperen; a peaceful creative haven where I again began teaching painting classes to others. I also taught in the Royal Talens studio in Apeldoorn.
​
In 2024, I launched painting retreats in Spain, a country whose sun, food, and vibrant atmosphere deeply inspire me. The joy and energy of life there led us to make a big decision: in 2025, we officially began the process of emigrating to Spain to fully embrace this new chapter.​​
​
BIO
​​"Nature and its rich, colorful vitality lie at the heart of my work. At the moment, I’m deeply inspired by artists like Sorolla, Zorn, Sargent, Monet, Douwe Elias, Lorrain, Koekkoek, and Watteau, as well as the atmospheric photography of Hans Withoos.
I often turn to painters like Sam Drukker, Velazquez, Mancini, Holbein and Cornelis Le Mair for visual inspiration and technical guidance.
Currently, I’m working on a new body of work for a solo exhibition in Spain, a dream that feels both deeply personal and creatively fulfilling."
