However, when I left school I found myself drawing nuts, bolts and washers at Scammel Lorries and didn’t get much time to paint.  There followed years of drawing circuit diagrams for computers, which were enormous in those days - so large each one needed a whole room.

After that I became freelance, working from my own home.  This enabled me to have more flexibility to paint dogs, in between my heating and plumbing work, and be at home with my beloved boxers

I became interested in dog shows and this opened up the opportunity to paint dog portraits of show dogs for their breeders and also of people's much loved pets, which is particularly enjoyable as the owners are so pleasant.

I have now retired from the work scene and this means I can concentrate entirely on my painting, and I occasionally exhibit my paintings in local exhibitions. I now have just two bulldogs, finding this an easier breed for the slightly older woman, and have painted several bulldog champions in water colour which is my favourite medium.

I have recently obtained a pyrography machine, enabling me to create images in wood, which will let me branch out into a whole new concept.

My husband Ray. We celebrated our Ruby Wedding anniversary last year.

One of Vida's sculptures, of her brother John and his cat Grimalkin

Vida on holiday in Madeira

Vida with her life long friend Alex

As long as I can remember my life has revolved around animals and art and I have a particular love of dogs and painting them.
When I was 13 years old I won a scholarship to Watford Technical High School where I studied art for 3 years.