What do you love most about where you live?

The privacy of our property, the beautiful old gums and the lovely views of the river. I can stand at my kitchen bench, look to the right and watch sun rise, then later in the day, stand in the same spot and watch the sun set to my left.

What’s the best thing about Hobart?

I love the visible history. The sandstone buildings, rivulets and quirky laneways.

And the worst?

I never look for the worst in anything.

Tell us a little about your work.

As the owner and curator of Huon Art, I have the joy of working alongside my chosen artists to present the very best paintings to our clients. I want my clients to feel uplifted every time they walk past the painting in their home and love it for decades to come. I love it when they tell me that their friends have said, ‘Wow! Where did you get that?’ as it is important to me that the artwork being sold is a reflection of my client’s individuality and personal taste.

With over 70 original paintings on display, I’m responsible for how the art is presented. This can involve many hours a week, simply because when one painting sells, it’s not just a matter of hanging another in its place but rather choosing how each painting tones with the next and how the gallery looks overall. I also work across social media platforms several times a week to promote the latest artworks that come into the gallery and organize our major artists’ exhibitions. I started the gallery four years ago, aged 68 so it’s not really about work but more about doing what I love and being passionate about making people’s dreams of owning an original piece of art a reality.

I’m inspired by

Acts of kindness

What do you love doing outside work?

Relaxing with a good crime film where I get to “play” the detective and try to solve the case before the film ends.

Where’s your favourite eatery?

Summer Kitchen, a five minute walk from home.

What do you never leave home without?

My iPad. I run the gallery’s social media from my iPad as well as the day-to-day business communications between admin, artists and clients.

I’d like to travel to …

The West Coast, it’s an area I haven’t explored – yet.

If I didn’t live in Hobart I’d live …

Close to my young adult granddaughter but as I raised her to be an IWOW (independent woman of the world) that could be anywhere!

Favourite Hobart secret?

The History rooms of both the State Library and the Morris Miller Library at UTAS. My Masters degree involved studying history and I loved the feeling of walking into those hallowed rooms to search the archives.

I’m reading…

‘The Red Shoes’ by Rosemary Sullivan. It is a biography about Margaret Atwood’s early life as a young writer. ■