Born in Lancashire, she studied at the Birmingham School of Music and the RAM.
She made her GFO debut as Hippolyta/A Midsummer Night’s Dream, followed by Mercédès/Carmen, Nancy/Albert Herring, Irene/Theodora, Geneviève/Pelléas et Mélisande, Eduige/Rodelinda, Emilia/Otello. She has sung Penelope/The Return of Ulysses, Jocasta/Oedipus Rex, Rosina/The Barber of Seville, title role/Carmen, title role/The Rape of Lucretia, Amastris/Xerxes, Suzuki/Madam Butterfly, Satyagraha (ENO); Nicklausse (ROH, San Diego); Dryade/Ariadne auf Naxos (ROH); title role/La Cenerentola, Charlotte/Werther (Seattle); Idamante/Idomeneo (Garsington).
She sings regularly with major orchestras and conductors and at the BBC Proms. Recordings include The Music Makers, The Rape of Lucretia, Das Lied von der Erde (RCA Viktor Red Soul). Future engagements include Song of the Earth (Opera North); Bianca/The Rape of Lucretia (Vienna).