I was born on a rainy Thursday afternoon in June to two immigrant parents (Scottish papa and Bulgarian Mama) in Brandon, Manitoba, of all places.

I grew up in a very artistic household, with a love for music and art always deeply valued and nurtured. It was my parents who encouraged me to go to art school when I was 19.

Though I don’t necessarily subscribe to the identity of “artist,” I do think of myself as a deeply creative person and believe that creativity shows itself in many ways, whether it be how you dress, arrange food on a plate, or the words you choose to speak. I strive to be creative in all aspects of my life, and love to nurture it in others, just as my parents did for me (am I crying right now?).

My Start & Philosophy

My Education

  • From Kindergarten to Grade 12 I was in a french immersion program and still speak it (although somewhat poorly) today!

  • I spent my first year away from home at the University of Winnipeg, taking general studies.

  • From 2013 to 2015 I attended school at Red Deer College in Alberta, studying Visual Arts, specializing in drawing, ceramics, and painting.

  • I made my way west, where I graduated with a BFA in Visual Arts with a concentration in Environmental Studies in 2018 from the University of Victoria.

  • I completed a Post-Degree Professional Program in Elementary Education in 2020, during the Pandemic, graduating again from UVic with a BEd.

  • In the spring of 2023 I completed a UX Design Course through BrainStation, and in October of the same year, completed a 12-week intensive UX Design Bootcamp through them as well!

My Interests

At the heart of who I am, I strive for joy, creativity, and connection. I’m a collector of hobbies, some of which include:

  • sewing (I even run my own little business making pillows and tote bags)

  • running (I started in the fall of 2022 and ran my first 10K in April of 2023!)

  • torturing my cat with love (his name is Frida Panther Banjo the Boycat)

  • singing and playing the ukulele

  • Mariokart (I’ll probably beat you)

  • Sports! (spikeball, volleyball, softball, and disc golf to name a few)

  • Camping and roadtrips (she’s a West Coast girlie afterall)

  • Making all sorts of art (textile, painting, polymer clay, pottery, digital and paper and pen drawing, etc.)

  • Language learning (I’ve studied French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Portuguese, and technically Bulgarian is my first language!)

  • I’m also on the board of a local theatre company and generally love to support the arts through volunteering