My coastal upbringing in Tsawwassen, British Columbia and Pt. Roberts, WA influenced my love for driftwood as the beaches there are "littered' with driftwood. As a child I collected driftwood, built driftwood forts, and swam alongside driftwood logs making their way to shore. This childhood experience combined with a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts, and my desire for creativity led me to become a driftwood artist.