Tracey Donovan was born in Scotlands ancient capital of Dunfermline and, after many years elsewhere, has again settled back in the town.

Although mainly self taught, she has studied art and design at Carnegie College as a mature student, having found some spare time when her children started school.

Tracey's main inspiration is drawn from her love of nature and wildlife and she confesses to being constantly fascinated by the intense colours and perfect forms of the natural world around us where she aspires to capture just a small part of that beauty in her work.

In contrast, Tracey also loves exotic and far off places for their wild flowers. Orchids, lilies and hibiscus are favourites for their hot colours and shapes.

Tracey enjoys differing media and styles but her main passion remains painting and textiles and it was for a textile piece, "exotic passion on silk" that she won a Shell Award in 2008.