Ona loves to focus on feeling or emotion when creating stand-alone pieces of art or writing and illustrating books. She is drawn to any subject matter that has an emotive element to it but particularly enjoys topics related to our natural world.
Ona was born in the UK and, as a young child, loved creating and illustrating stories with her grandmother. She pursued a career as a teacher of the Deaf and frequently used her love of drawing and storytelling while teaching.
After a 16-year career in education, Ona became a professional watercolour artist in 2011. She is an elected member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour and a signature member of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America. Ona was selected as one to watch by the Watercolor Artist Magazine in 2012. She has won numerous awards nationally and internationally and has had articles accompanying her artwork published in prominent magazines and art books worldwide.
Ona is passionate about the natural world and has raised and tagged monarch butterflies for many years. Her garden is an official Monarch Waystation and a registered Canadian wildlife garden. Visitors describe it as a haven or oasis, a place of tranquility and safety. To Ona, it is a source of inspiration. Whatever the season, you will find her photographing or sketching the animals that live in it or simply observing them and mulling over ideas for future stories or paintings.
Her recently published story ‘The Paper Butterfly’ is Ona’s debut author-illustrated chapter book.
