"I won my first art competition, for a record sleeve design,
aged 11", she recalls.
"Having since won awards for my animal art, it seemed the natural choice
to now concentrate on my drawings and paintings."

Charmaine works with mixed media, though favourites remain charcoal and pastels.
"I sometimes use the computer to enhance the printing quality of those designs
which are used on clothing and ceramics, or are incorporated
into websites", she adds.
"But it depends on the subject. Some things I like to look raw,
- an animal's coat, for example."

Her inspiration is found in the realms of myth, magic and fantasy;
ancient beliefs and cultures, and ordinary everyday life.

"There is beauty and magic all around us in our worlds, but most of us are too busy
to notice. All I try to do, is freeze-frame a glimpse you might have missed."