Diana is an Artist and former Architect, who now works principally with Monotype printmaking. She has also engaged in numerous exhibitions with her oil paintings; and created several pieces of Land Art by jury or invitation.
By 1985 she completed both a graduate degree in Architecture and undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Waterloo, Canada; which included studies in Rome, Italy in 1982. She returned to teach in the Design Studio in the academic ‘Rome Program’ of the University of Waterloo (Canada) and the Pratt Institute (New York) in 1988-89.
Artistic formation evolved through these portals of design and architecture. The natural environment continued to inspire her artwork and architectural design; and early in her career she purposely both studied and worked with architects and designers who encouraged this connection to nature. Initially she worked in the studio of Alvar Aalto Architects in Helsinki, Finland; followed by the offices of Arthur Erickson Architects, in Canada. Both were places where the organic attributes of a design process inspired by elements of nature were emphasized; and she regards understanding their works as hugely influential to her creative process.
A diverse and lengthy international career in Architecture practice within Europe and North America ensued; which evolved into an independent design consultancy. Parallel to this architectural path, she continued to create and exhibit artworks; and curated art collections for building projects. Notably the ‘Harvest Collection’ of nearly 1000 artworks for the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Berlin, Germany 2013.
Biography -
This duality of, and passion for Art and Design expression has continued throughout her life. It is evident in the composed quality of her artworks; and why she finds the intuitive and spontaneous quality of the Monotype printmaking process so inviting.
Primarily a self-taught Artist, Diana finds her inspiration in the rhythms and patterns, the structure of the forms, textures, and colors of nature. Through her artistic process she seeks to understand our place within the myth and mystery of this larger sensibility. She believes that it is of essential importance to take time to observe the beauty of the natural world; and in so doing find our common ground.
Her artwork has been exhibited in the USA, Norway, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Finland; and is in several private and corporate collections. In 2008 she was invited to exhibit at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle, USA; and in 2017 was invited to exhibit alongside the 57th Venice Art biennale in the Accorsi Arte Gallery in Venice. In 2019 she was one of 9 selected finalists in the Taller-Fort international mini-print exhibition from 681 juried global entries.
Since 2013 Diana has been based in the village of Bugarach, in the south of France; where she renovated the ancient Post Office house and opened her studio and an Art Gallery for several years. Following the events of 2020/21, she has lived in the forest with her partner and two dogs; and draws daily artistic inspiration from the natural landscape of her surroundings.
