While going through old family photographs I began to wonder how I could honour those women who came before us. I loved the idea of remembering what our grandmothers have done, often without recognition, so for the 52 weeks beginning in January 2020 I began creating a body work consisting of weekly portrait paintings based on photographs and stories that have been shared with me. My goal was to include grandmothers and great-grandmothers and to hear their stories in order to share the challenges and successes of these women.

As the Covid-19 pandemic hit worldwide during this process, I found 'The Grandmothers' project to be even more important. So many women survived world wars, droughts, poverty, violence and illness. They were uprooted from their families and still found a way to support and encourage their children and grandchildren.

Each day I entered my studio, I was encouraged by the faces and stories of these women. With this project I wanted to share the beautiful, strong, encouraging women who have made a difference in the lives of their families, through their portraits and through sharing the stories and memories of their sacrifices and how they overcame their own challenges. They give me hope.