Jeni Bate

I live in the Imperial Valley in California, a vast open desert with the hugest skies - my biggest inspiration. Being a desert, clouds are a special treat.

I have been painting seriously since 2001. I was later shown a picture of myself as a small child painting at my easel. The painting I had completed was a skyscape, and it reminded me that I had always painted skyscapes.

I also write poetry for my paintings and paint them in. One of the three ways I combine the two halves of my creativity.