I was born in St. John's in 1950, a third generation Newfoundlander. I grew up on Elizabeth Avenue when it was a gravel road in the country. My Father, Don Clouston, brought the first cars for sale in Newfoundland. He often travelled the island checking on his dealerships and would take Mommy and me with him. So, it was at a young age that I had the opportunity to see and get a feel for the Newfoundland landscape. Mommy taught me to embroider and Daddy taught me woodworking. One of my best memories of him is the day he bought me my first chisel. Not the usual father/daughter activity, but both my parents realized I had creative interests and helped in ways they could.

When I was 15, I went to live with my sister Sally and her children in Oklahoma. Sally, more than anyone, encouraged my creative talents. She tolerated my various projects, usually in the middle of the kitchen floor!

I went on to more formal art education at the University of Oklahoma and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. My primary interest was goldsmithing. However, it wasn't until I returned home to Newfoundland. that I realized how much I had missed the Newfoundland landscape. I worked as a goldsmith for awhile, but it was lacking something I needed. I saw a lot of changes in the landscape from earlier years when I travelled with my parents.

Things did not come together for me creatively, until I was asked to work on some banners for a travelling theatre show. Suddenly I was working with colour and had the chance to portray the unique landscape of our province. I worked in batik for four years and during this time I had lots of opportunity to work with large pieces of silk and images from around the island.

In 1981 I had come to a turning point. I wanted more detail in my work than batik could offer. I investigated silkscreen printing, using dyes on the silk. I developed my own technique and refined my images using many colours and lots of detail. I continued using this method until 1994, when I realized I wanted more control over the printing process. I am now working on museum board using water base inks. I find this combination of materials and technique to be a wonderful way to express myself.

I still travel the island looking for subject matter. On one of these trips, I was chatting with a young gentleman, and after I had explained what I was doing, he summed it up rather well: "You're looking for what's gone;" - the old ways, a relaxed time in the traditional outport Newfoundland. I hope my prints bring to you the qualities of that time and place.