I’m from a family of seven children. I was brought up in the Netherlands and started an early artistic career by winning a national painting competition at age 12. Followed evening classes in classic art education , I finished under private tuition at the Art Academy in Haarlem Holland. I immigrated with my husband and two children to New Zealand in 1974 and continued studying as an adult student.
A major change to glass in 1998 established the need for a creative partner when it became clear that a silversmith was needed to mount the delicate designs I was making.
Happily my husband Christian Hendel, now retired from a long technical design teaching career, has studied in New Zealand under the best silversmith in Northland. His technical skills are a true artistic compliment to the small glass pieces that I create – you can see the front and the back of each piece in the gallery below.
