Ellen was born and raised in the small coastal community of Campbell River BC on Vancouver Island. She obtained her degree in Fine Art at Malaspina College (now VIU) in Nanaimo in 1984. Ellen approaches her work with a sense of humor and whimsy, delighting in what happens with the clay as she manipulates, stretched, textures and builds a variety of forms from decorative, to functional and sculptural.
Daily meditative beach walks provide endless inspiration, and she is always dreaming up new challenges to tackle. She continues to reside in Campbell River, where she operates her studio, and offers classes in hand-building and Raku. Ellen says that “A day with clay is always a good day”.