A direct descendent both of Sir Joshua Reynolds [paternal] and John & James Linnell [maternal], Fiona enjoyed a very happy and active childhood in Cornwall - and this is still reflected in much of her work.   She studied business and worked for many years in entertainments starting at the Cornwall Coliseum and managing such infamous venues as the Manchester & Glasgow Apollos, Edinburgh Playhouse etc.

   Eventually she started working for Midland Bank at their group HQ in  Sheffield when singing took up most of her spare time,  moving to London when HSBC took over in the early 1990‘s.   One of the conditions for the move was to qualify as a management accountant, and during this intensive study period her artistic ambitions turned towards painting.   Joining the Midland Bank Art Club in 1994 was her first introduction to watercolours and this has become a consuming passion ever since (far more than the accountancy).   

   After two periods of maternity leave, and a family move to a new house with a ready built studio, redundancy became an attractive option and the formation of the Willow Watercolours followed at the end of 2000.