Heather grew up as an only child living in a rural area. To escape the loneliness of that lifestyle she created imaginary worlds filled with strange and fascinating characters. She was given her first camera by her father at the age of five and was immediately captivated by this new world that existed within the photos. Although too young to understand the concept of light, Heather was drawn to the interplay between light and shadow and how this interaction created drama and depth to an image.

With the sudden loss of her father at the age of 10, the child Heather turned to family photos of her father to return to moments of time that they shared together and help her process through her loss. The power of a photographic image to create a window into a world where the viewer could experience emotion and relive memories ultimately became the driving force in her creativity.

Heather’s process today is heavily influenced in the use of light by the Dutch Masters; Rembrandt and Vermeer, as well as the work of photographic storytelling pioneers Henri Cartier-Bresson, Saul Leiter, and Sam Abell. Heather employs a voyeuristic perspective of the decisive moment, painted with light and shadow to craft multi-layered, storytelling images. Her deeply personal works that often use humans as the main character range from singular commentaries on social issues to stolen moments of time infused with her trademark quirky humour. Heather pushes herself to create painterly photographs; enjoying the reaction of viewers who cannot decide whether they are viewing a realism painting or a photograph.
Heather’s creative work has been featured in multiple international and local juried exhibits, published in several leading photographic magazines and hangs in several private collections.

Heather works with multiple mediums within her craft. She prefers film to digital but enjoys the freedom of exploration of shutter speeds and camera movement that digital provides. Heather enjoys exploring and pushing the boundaries of light and shutter to bring her stories to life. She is extremely conscious of the negative environmental impact of her craft and prints only on sustainable products.

Whether accompanied by her hubby and beloved crew of dogs in their vintage RV or simply stealing time on a quiet hike; Heather is happiest when surrounded by the beauty and stillness of nature.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Heather employs a voyeuristic perspective of the decisive moment, painted with light and shadow to craft multi-layered, storytelling images. Her deeply personal works that often use humans as the main character range from singular commentaries on social issues to stolen moments of time infused with her trademark quirky humour. Heather pushes herself to create painterly photographs; enjoying the reaction of viewers who cannot decide whether they are viewing a realism painting or a photograph.