After returning to the UK, Laura lived in London for 10 years and in 2009 Laura started training at Roehampton University, London as a Music Psychotherapist and completed a 3 year Masters before qualifying to work in acute psychiatry and severe autism. During this time Laura’s art career was overshadowed by the clinical demands and intensity of her psychoanalytic therapeutic work. After many years this lead to professional burnout and complex trauma in relation to an unfortunate series of personal experiences, which amalgamated in a late diagnosis of ADHD and high-masking autism which resulted in Laura taking time out for recovery. However, the belief that transformation and spiritual growth is born out of adversity echoes Oscar Wilde’s notion, “What seems to us bitter trials are often blessings in disguise;” a notion that resonates deeply with Laura. Perhaps the years spent in solitary mental suffering and recovery were predestined as it reignited Laura with her former passion to focus on her art career.
Laura grew up in Poole, Dorset where the natural beauty of the rugged coastline inspired her art and music from a young age. At age 7 she started learning the violin and shortly after the piano. By secondary school Laura started exploring her innate talent for painting landscapes inspired by the Jurassic coast, whilst composing musical pieces in response to the natural world. Laura’s exceptional musicianship and artistry won her a scholarship at the prestigious Canford School to study fine art and train as a classical violinist, where it was expected she would go to the Royal Academy and become a concert violinist. However, at that time Laura’s spirited personality lead her to delve into the world of acting and theatre directing.
After graduating in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Film & Drama from Reading University, UK, Laura worked and travelled around Australia; during which time she developed her expressive painting techniques using rich vibrant oil colours to reflect the endless diversity and majestic exuberance of the vast Australian landscape.
Towards the end of recovery, in 2023, Laura travelled around Costa Rica which proved to be a life-affirming adventure, where the enchanting landscapes provided an ideal backdrop for artistic inspiration. Laura immersed herself in meditative practice; enhancing her soul journey as she bathed in the abundant rainforests. In particular, Laura was mesmerised by the magical brilliance and sheer power of the Costa Rican waterfalls. Representing the continuous flow of life and symbolising movement, change and the passage of time- just as water cascades down a waterfall, life progresses, and nothing remains stagnant. It is with this sentiment Laura felt inspired to feature these majestic creations of nature in her latest collection of work; aptly named, ‘Journey To Healing.’ Laura identifies with how the destructive depths of darkness have shifted and like the waterfalls, abundant life energy flows freely once more.
Laura now resides in Bristol where she works in her home studio, alongside time spent working in her second home in Sandbanks, Dorset. Laura’s painting style is world renowned for its unique richness of depth and texture; where her varied fluid use of the palette knife and brush embody a dance-like rhythmic movement as though painting an orchestral piece of music, reminiscent of the courageously beautiful, limitless and intuitive artist she is.