Born in Sussex, 1948, of Irish/English parentage, educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and Kent University. In 2004 graduated with an M.Phil in Creative Writing from Glasgow University.
A former English and Drama teacher, she has taught at all levels from primary to undergraduate, and currently is a Tutor in Creative Writing and Performance Poetry at the Office of Lifelong Learning, University of Edinburgh. She also performs as a story-teller.
She Is a founding member of the poetry performance group 'Loose Tongues'.
She has worked as a puppeteer at the Little Angel Theatre, Islington and at the In the Heart of the Beast Theatre, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A. and writes about puppets and alternative theatre, travelling the world to see traditional puppetry, masks and dance drama.
Her debut as a jazz singer was at the Lot, Edinburgh Jazz festival, 2007 where she sang as part of the Fionna Duncan course event.
After 13 years living in Mid-Wales, she moved to Edinburgh in late 1999 where she lives with her husband and son.