Petra is a visual artist who is constantly inspired by the dichotomy of urban and natural landscapes and infl uenced by the geography and spirit of her home in Hamilton, Ontario. She uses paint, ink, and graphite to investigate natural elements like roots, botanicals, and vegetation. Petra’s paintings of fading and hardy fl owers are subtle layers of emotional expression of fragility and strength.She has a graphic design and fashion illustration diploma from Fanshawe College, a BFA in Fine Art, and an MA in Art Education from Concordia University in Montreal. Her career as a designer and art director was in print publications and newspaper design, with a particular interest in typography. More recently, her teaching career in painting, drawing and media design has perfectly complemented art-making.She has been exhibiting her paintings since 2004, and her current interests centre around environmental awareness, particularly vegetation and trees, contemporary artwork and art and spirituality.