I was born and grew up in the mountains of North Carolina, and except for two years of my life I have lived, played and worked somewhere in the Blue Ridge mountains. Since early childhood I have found peace, strength and joy in the woods, by creeks and on mountaintops. Also since childhood I have loved to draw and paint. Much of my inspiration and encouragement in art came from my parents. My father would draw pictures for me and share his grown-up art supplies, and my mother helped keep alive my sense of imagination, creativity and play. As I grew up I kept journals full of drawings and writings. At Mars Hill College, NC, I studied Art and graduated cum laude in 1980 with a B.A. in Studio Art and Art History.

After graduating I worked at various craft shops, a library, and as an arts and crafts instructor for children. I started screen printing full time in 1986, have been a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild ever since, and have also studied at Penland School of Crafts and John C. Campbell Folk School. My work is sold in many galleries and craft shops in the southeastern U.S.

I feel blessed and grateful to make my living by creating pictures of the beautiful mountains surrounding me and the whimsical fantasies that dance through my imagination. My husband, Buzz Coren is a woodcrafter who makes custom bowls, vessels, and Featherwood jewelry. We live in view of the Black Mountain Range in Yancey County, near Burnsville, NC.