I am from Hamilton, Scotland, but have lived in London since 1988, working as a technical translator exclusively in the patents field.

MA in French and German (2nd Class, Upper Division) - University of Glasgow (other subjects studied as part of the degree - Swedish, mathematics, general philosophy)

Postgraduate Diploma in Technical and Specialised Translation (with Distinction) - University of Westminster (main languages - French and German; subsidiary languages - Swedish, Italian, Danish and Dutch)

Member of ITI since 1989.

18 years as staff translator and manager of the translation department of a small patent searching company.

Freelance translator specialising in patents and related material since 2007.

Professional indemnity insurance.

I specialise in German, French and Swedish (in that order). I am also able to offer Italian, Danish and Dutch, although I am generally too busy with German, French and Swedish to take on anything other than short, non-urgent jobs in those languages.

Typical subject areas handled include plastics, packaging, printing, metallurgy, machine tools, automotive engineering, chemical engineering, textiles and general mechanical texts. Over the years I have developed a good understanding of patent law and EPO terminology and procedures and have considerable experience in the translation of decisions, opposition statements, grounds of appeal and other submissions, as well as commercial register extracts, specifications of goods, etc..

I have always placed great importance on appropriate research as part of the translation process. My background has helped me to develop excellent research skills and I aim to leave no stone unturned. Also useful for technical queries is the fact that my husband is a mechanical engineer and patent searcher.

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Finally, just a little more about me and what I do when I am not translating. An interesting text in one of these areas would be the only thing that might tempt me to take on a translation in a field other than patents and intellectual property.

If I hadn't become a translator, I would like to have pursued a career in music. My instruments are flute and piano.

When not at my desk, I am most likely to be found at my local swimming pool, where I swim a mile every morning before starting work.

Whenever I can (not nearly often enough), I like to get out into the mountains. Trips over recent years have included Nepal, Slovenia, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, Switzerland, Romania, Sikkim, the French Pyrenees and, of course, the Highlands of Scotland. My favourite destination is Nepal. I have only a few basic phrases of Nepali, but would like to be able to develop that further. The same thing applies to Scottish Gaelic, of which I have only a rudimentary knowledge (evening classes years ago). The photo above is from a trek in Nepal - Three High Passes to Everest - in November 2009.