I was born in Wollongong Hospital. My parents had emigrated to Australia after the war, my mother would tell me stories of her home being bombed, escaping through the forest and then taking the long boat journey to Australia. My mother met my father at the local dance hall called The Southern Cross, he was an immigrant from Yugoslavia and worked at the Port Kembla Metal Manufacturers. I lived in Balgownie and went to Balgownie Public School with my brother and sister.

I had many part-time jobs while I was still at school, including at a dental surgery, doughnut shop, David Jones and even hairdressing before I found Wollongong Travel Centre and began my career as a travel consultant. Through my job I was very lucky to travel quite extensively and only gave up work after I married to bring up my two boys. I went back to work in travel after a few years when the boys went to school. Then one day my husband had a job offer to work overseas as an expatriate. I quit my job and took our boys out of school and we were off to Greece for two years, which ended up being 4½ very happy years. As I was the wife of an expat I was unable to work so I picked up my paint brushes and started to paint again.

We were then offered a move to France which we accepted. We lived 20 minutes from the Palace of Versailles and 25 minutes from Paris in the beautiful old town of Croissy-sur-Seine where Monet, Renoir and others had painted their famous works by the banks of the River Seine. The boys adapted great to their new environment and so did I. I taught art to expats and locals, and sold my works in local cafes. I was in art heaven, regularly visiting the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Monet's Gardens at Giverny and was a regular visitor to Montmartre.

After 7½ years it was time to come home, we had seen and done so much. I made the decision to formalise my studies by completing a four-year Advanced Diploma in Fine Arts. The freedom of watercolours, the unlimited expanse in landscapes and the curves of the human figure are all fundamental elements in my creations. For the last few years I have been exhibiting my works with other artists and in solo exhibitions in Shellharbour, Project Contemporary Art Space, Belmore Basin's Old Courthouse and Art Arena Gallery, where recently my works were hung in the 30 years and 30 artists exhibition and Wollongong City Gallery. I have been invited to show in Thirroul Seaside Festival and Scarborough Art Show. My works hang in private homes and businesses. I have painted commissions of France, Murano in Venice, the Amalfi Coast and little Italian cobblestone streets. It helps to have been to these places and seen the colours, light and mood of a place. For the past 18 months I've been the exhibition co-ordinator at Art Arena Gallery.

We have been back to Europe many times exploring and enjoying the people and the vibrant colours of different cultures. Our last trip was to Germany, Vienna, Italy and Croatia, where we travelled from Split to Dubrovnik on a small gullet with eight friends. It was amazing, the colours were breathtaking. Maybe that's why my new body of work has a very aqua feel. Currently I have again turned to sharing my craft with others, teaching at Wollongong Design Studio, as well as holding art classes at Levers Wollongong in collaboration with another artist.

I am very lucky to have the support of our local community who display and sell my artworks. New works are available to view at Casa Decor8 Gallery and Gifts in Balgownie, City Cafe in Wollongong, Corn Mill Fine Art Gallery, Corrimal, and Chedo's Cafe in Coledale. I recently had my seven-minute promotional film screen at the Viva la Gong festival. My new exhibition, Looking is not Seeing, at Art Arena Gallery runs from November 25 to December 6. Opening night is Friday, November 28, from 6pm. Lisa Barry, my friend for so many years, will be exhibiting with me. Admission is free and all artworks will be for sale. You can view my work at www.reneekamaretsos.com.au.