I was born in Blackburn in 1949 but spent my formative years in Singapore. After returning to England I studied at Blackburn College and Saint Martins School of Fine Art in London where I obtained my Bachelor of Arts degree. I then went on to Goldsmiths University to study Art Therapy.

After leaving University, I travelled to Greece, Portugal and Spain before finally settling on the beautiful and inspiring island of Ibiza where I am considered to be one of the outstanding painters on an island that boasts a wealth of talented artists. I returned to Blackburn to be with my patron, partner and the love of my life, the late Dr Brian Mercer, renowned art collector and founder of the Blackburn based company Netlon.

Dr Mercer spotted my potential as an artist at an early age and continued to promote my work until his sudden and untimely death in 1998.

“Although Adrienne has been influenced by the great painters of the Surrealist movement, particularly Salvador Dali, she has the consummate ability to paint in her own inimitable manner.” Dr F B Mercer OBE FRS.

In the two years prior to his death Dr Mercer encouraged me to start making sculptures and I produced a collection of bronzes which were cast at Pangolin Editions one of the leading English foundries. I also studied marble carving in Pietra Santa Italy under the supervision of Ralph Brown RA.

My paintings have reflected my travels and life in the different communities I have lived in and are often autobiographical, but now living in the North of England my work has entered into a new exciting phase. Seemingly defying both the grey and damp landscape as well as my health condition (I was diagnosed as HIV positive in 2002), my work has become more life-affirming, more vivid, more vibrant, more packed with a technicolour interpretation of being alive. In the Venice series for example, I have said that I became obsessed with places Imay never visit: the defining character is a woman on a tightrope balancing across an abyss with no visible means of support.

Apart from painting and sculpting, I have also written my autobiography entitled, “The Spider and the Fly” and was one of the first women to openly speak about her HIV status – on TV, radio and via my blog: www.hivine.com – which has attracted over 15 million visitors.

I am also available for keynote speaking.