Lyn Peterson "I have always been drawn to the beautiful and unusual things in life.  I detest cruelty." I grew up in Bathurst in central western NSW and I've lived in various places including Sydney and Perth before making Newcastle my home in 1998. Mum told me I started drawing at age three. Family members and relatives were subjected to sitting for portraits, and drawings of people popped up in a lot of Mum's good books, including a large bible. I was one of the nerds at school who preferred art and music to sport. I love animals and have had a large assortment of pets over the years. My first job was clerical but I moved on to work in more creative areas such as retail display and designing posters, brochures & t-shirts for printing companies. Apart from Art in high school, I haven't had any formal training in art, mainly short lessions and tips from established artists. I admire the work of alot of artists. Some include: Roger Dean, Ian Miller, Susan Seddon Boulet, Salvador Dali, Boris Vallejo, Chris Achilleos and Liz McGrath. I also enjoy the work of many different cartoonists, although I haven't done alot in the way of comics or caricatures myself. I love Reg Mombassa's art works. Medievil and religious art, as well as fantasy and tattoo art are also influences.  Music and pop culture also play an important part and I  work  listening to music or to triple j on the radio.  I also love scary movies and halloween!  I have tried different media - Oils, acrylics and  coloured pencils are favourites  and I am always experimenting with new ideas. People and animals have always been my favourite subjects.