Self-taught, Marie took the opportunity to pursue a career as an artist in 2004. She first specialised in painting succulents – capturing their bold formation, contrasting colours and dramatic shadowing.

Marie has now moved in a new direction painting a rather bizarre passion – cows. She loves their shyness and inquisitiveness, and she thinks they are beautiful creatures. Marie has fun photographing them – and finds singing to them a great way to entice them to get closer to her. Marie is now adding native birds into her images allowing her Otago Scottish Heritage to be entwined with a native New Zealand twist.