It's true I have surfing in my blood, coming from one of Ireland's pioneering surf families. My Dad, Barry, Mum, NC and sister, Becky-Finn all surf and I've grown up by the sea in Donegal, influenced by the ocean all my life. So maybe it's also true that I have art in the blood too? My Dad is the artist behind the surf art for the Intercounties posters, the folk festival music posters and The Triple Crown of Surfing Pipeline Masters and Hawaiian Pro artwork. All of which have become collectors items. Our art is influenced by our passion for surfing, yet we express it very differently!

I was always encouraged by my parents to be creative but they never pushed anything on me, just leaving me to my own devices with a box of colored pencils...In summer I would cover the patio with chalk drawings and in winter the tiles of our living room floor. Mum would leave them for ages not wanting to wipe them away. At night I would draw for hours before going to sleep, sometimes even on my bedroom walls.

My real artistic awakening came when I met Irish artist Pauline Bewick. When I was 10 my Mum brought me to one of her art workshops in the Burren and that was the beginning of a great friendship. I learned how to paint with watercolors and Pauline's best advice was to go BIG and BOLD! Be brave! I still love to go down to visit her in Kerry and paint, both of us sharing travel stories and letting inspiration flow. Pauline also encouraged me to start a travel sketchbook. I take a sketchbook with me on all my travels now. It's a much more powerful way of capturing magic moments on a trip than words or a photo... It's also a great way to kill downtime when waiting for the next swell!

The Wet n' Wild women's surf weekend is in its 5th year this year. A great gathering of 'kai wahine', water-women from all over the country learning to surf and having fun in the sea. I love designing the poster every year, I can let loose and be as colourful as I want, painting women in their element, the ocean.