I was born in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia.

I have made three good choices in my life: the first was to choose a career in art; the second was to marry the Irish artist, Micheal Farrell. The third was to choose to live in France in the village of my Huguenot ancestors.

The path I have chosen is thanks to certain people in my life. My parents encouraged me to develop my artistic talent and gave me the best education possible: the New England Girl’s School (69); a Bachelor of Arts from Sydney University (72); a diploma from Shillito Design School; a post-graduate diploma from St Martin’s School of Art in London.

I would not be doing what I am doing if I had never met Phyllis Shillito.

Thanks to Walter McVitty I have had six children’s books published.

I thank the late Paul Gottlieb, my New York publisher from Abrams, who loved and encouraged my work.

I have had one of my paintings, Paris in the Middle Ages made into a tapestry at Aubusson in France.

Margaret Early