It all started with a passion for gardening. In 1973 Doreen decided to try her hand at oil painting wanting to bring the beauty of her garden to canvas. Her main medium was oils until just a few years ago when she started using acrylic paint in the first layers for its quick drying and then switching to oils because of its slower drying and the ability it gave her to move the paint around the canvas. More recently, using gels and glazes she has been able to obtain the same effect without the use of oils. She often uses acrylics in thin layers with the addition of gels and glazes like a water colour effect bringing the canvas to life with movement and colour.

She was often asked to exhibit her work in local libraries. There were many offers to purchase her work but she didn't want to part with them. It has only been in the past 5 years that she has been exhibiting her work at different annual events throughout the County of Essex and has now sold several of her paintings.