About Diane

Originally from Cheshire I have lived in Scotland since the 1980’s. I graduated with a BA (Hons) in Landscape Architecture in 1989 and an MSc in Urban Design in 1999 – both from Edinburgh College of Art/ Heriot-Watt University. I have worked as a Chartered Landscape Architecture for my entire career and continue to do so part-time in the public sector.  In my spare time I pursue my passion for batik painting.

I first discovered the art form of batik painting whilst on a cycling holiday on the Isle of Islay in 2000 and the following year I attended a batik workshop run by Elizabeth Sykes at her studio at Bridgend, Islay. Since then I have been hooked on batik painting, became a member of the Scottish Batik Guild and have attended their annual workshops at Strontian, Ardnamurchan since 2007. In 2009 I attended a batik master class led by Noel Dyrenforth where experimental techniques in batik were taught.

Inspiration for my work mainly comes from Scottish landscapes including my home town of Edinburgh, but I also have a love of nature and wildlife. I work from my own photographs usually taken whilst on cycling or walking holidays in Scotland. I have exhibited and sold my original batik paintings as part of the Scottish Batik Guild Exhibitions which have taken place at various locations including Glasgow Botanic Gardens(2009), Percy House Gallery, Cockermouth (2009) and Resipole Studios, Archaracle, Argyll (from 2013 -2024).  I have also exhibited at Dancing Light Gallery, Whitmuir (2016); at Stick Factory, Edinburgh (2016); for the RSPB  ‘Art on the Wing’ exhibition at Rozelle Gallery, Ayr (2016) and at the Birch Tree Gallery, Edinburgh (2018).

In 2014 I was commissioned by the Scottish Parliament to produce a batik for one of their official Christmas cards.  My batik painting ‘Scottish Parliament in Winter’ was used by the Parliament from 2014 -2016.