" I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO LIVE WHERE THE COCONUT PALMS GROW BECAUSE ALL THE REST FOLLOWS: THE HEAT, THE LIGHT, THE TURQUOISE BLUE WATER AND THE WHITE SANDY BEACHES..."

Marilyn Band was born in Belfast, brought up and educated in England. She trained in life drawing in Florence and studied Graphic Design at Buckinghamshire University and went on to work in advertising in London.

In 1979 she sailed, with her husband Nick, from Cape Town arriving in Southeast Asia where subsequently she set up a studio in Phuket.

Starting with custom designed T-Shirts, she soon became well known to the participants and audience of the King's Cup Regatta, a prestigious sailing regatta in Southeast Asia, selling her nautical inspired designs, as well as illustrating the daily regatta newspaper. She also designed the official T-Shirt for The Phang Nga Bay Regatta for several years, as well as many logos, letterheads and brochures.

Gradually her painting took over and she now paints full time in either watercolour or oil. Inspired by the archipelagos of the Indian Ocean, Andaman Sea and Indonesian Islands. Her paintings show the charm of the islands and their people.

Being the daughter of a stained glass artist definitely influences her vibrant sense of colour.

Marilyn has held Exhibitions in Phuket, Thailand and Brittany, France.

When not exploring distant archipelagos by yacht, Marilyn and her husband divide their time between Phuket, Thailand and the North coast of Brittany, France.