Born in the sleepy town of Scituate on the south shore of Massachusetts, Amy Szep grew up drawing most anything that came her way -- from the sun-soaked flowers on the shores of New England to the couture fashion of runway models.

Her mood: soft pastel colours that lend themselves easily to natural forms. Food illustrations -- textured and rich -- are a passion, along with delicate feminine beauty and the easy lifestyle trappings of a cozy home: a tea set or bathroom arrangement, for example.

Amy Szep graduated from Ontario College of Art after developing her skills at in the art departments of Brookline High School and sharpening them on a program with the Parsons School of Design in Paris. Her work has appeared in a range of publications -- including Chatalaine, The Boston Globe, Canada's Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star and Cape Women.

Artistic influences came early. Her father, Paul Szep , is a Pulitizer
Prize-winning editorial cartoonist. Her mother, Anne Garton, also an artist, managed an art gallery that offered a kaleidoscope of ideas and lasting impressions of modern New England painters such as Corita Kent and Maud Morgan. As her skills developed, other influences took hold, including the fashion industry and clothing designs.