Elspeth J Mackenzie studied at Portsmouth College of Art and Design. She received a first class honours degree in Humanities with Art History in 2007 awarded by the Open University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Humanities (Art History) in 2010. In 2001, she was a contestant on Channel 4’s ‘Watercolour Challenge’. She was awarded the Harry Vaughan prize by Dundee Art Society in 2005 and won a bursary from the Society for All Artists for “inspiring and encouraging people to paint” in 2006. Elspeth runs her own art workshops and is also a lead artist with Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust. She also demonstrates her mixed media techniques for art groups in Scotland. In 2008, Elspeth was a founder member of Perthshire Open Studios. Elspeth combines a bold and lively approach in her artwork, utilising a wide range of media in order to capture the essence of her subject matter. Her inspiration comes from a variety of sources, but she is particularly interested in colour and movement.