Marie Phelan was born in County Galway, has lived in the UK and now lives in County Wexford. She combines photography with painted backgrounds that draw out and enhance the characteristics of her home-grown flowers and plants. She has an Associate distinction from the Irish Photographic Federation, is a member of Wexford Camera Club and exhibits regularly in Wexford, for example during the opera festival and at the Wexford Arts Centre cafe. As an enthusiastic gardener she has her pick of subject material, and with an eye to future images, grows unusual and colourful plant varieties. Her painted backgrounds are achieved using watercolour and mixed media. While a background is ‘oozing and in a state of flux’, she judges the moment to place her flower or plant, and captures it with a macro lens.