Colina studied at the National Art School and worked in a Commercial Art Studio after leaving school until marriage and family when she continued studies at Gymea Technical College, doing freelance work at home.
Once trying pastels she became “hooked” by their brilliance and immediacy.
Not long after she began to be asked to teach this medium (that she’d basically taught herself) workshops from as far north as Cairns down to Melbourne, west to Dubbo and east to New Zealand.
She also taught at Parramatta Evening College for 27 years and ran a sketch club for the same length of time.
The rewards from this busy life have been the life-long friendships made and to be awarded Artist of the Year 10 times by the Combined Art Societies of Sydney and for the Pastel Society of Australia to award her the title of Master Pastellist.
She is a ” fellow” of the Royal Art Society of NSW and a long-standing member of CHAS and a life member of Parramatta Art Society. She lives in Constitution Hill with her husband.
