At the age of two and a half I was confined to hospital where I remained until I was 5 years old. I had TB of the hip bone; much of that time was spent in traction. I do remember going through many colouring-in books as well as drawing pictures for the family when they came to visit as well as the doctors and nursing staff. I painted my first watercolour of a swan when I was 7 and my dad really made me feel important by framing it and displaying it in the sitting room, showing it to everyone who visited. As I grew, I spent many hours sketching, mainly pencil drawings or pen...more
