Tracy’s artwork has wandered far beyond Gosport, popping up in shops, studios, and homes across the globe, but she never forgets where it came from. Her designs are pure Gosport at heart, bursting with waterfront views, familiar landmarks, and the kind of local charm that makes people smile. One minute she’s creating a commission of Sydney Harbour, the next she’s crafting collages of Priddy’s Hard or Stokes Bay. Global? Absolutely. Local? Completely. Tracy’s work is a joyful love letter to her home and beyond.
From navy to art
Tracy has lived in Gosport most of her life, with Royal Clarence Yard her home. After leaving school, she spent a year at art college but wasn’t sure where to take her creativity. Instead, she found herself in the Royal Navy, serving 12 years undertaking clerical roles as a petty officer. Her career took her to Portsmouth Dockyard and even to Belgium, where she worked at NATO HQ as a PA to a one-star general in the early 1990s.
When she left the Navy in 1999, life took her to Denmark with her then-husband, who was also in the Navy. Living by a lake with her young daughter, Tracy embraced the freedom to be creative and started receiving commissions that rekindled her love of art. Returning to the UK, she explored interior design and set painting at the Barbican Theatre in Plymouth before taking the bold step of returning to university aged 36 to study textile design. “It was daunting going back into education at that age and with a young child at home,” she recalls, “but losing my dad put things into perspective. Life is too short not to follow your passion.”
Graduating aged 40 from Winchester School of Art, Tracy began making scarves from home before joining forces with fellow designer Kate in 2012 to launch Port & Lemon. Their distinctive blue-and-white designs quickly found success, and when Kate moved on, Tracy carried the business forward alone.
Opening the shop
For years, Port & Lemon thrived from a studio in Titchfield and later near the Explosion Museum. When changes to the building’s management came into effect, Tracy seized the chance to find a new base and embraced the opportunity by opening a shop on Stoke Road. “It was a big step,” she reflects. “I’d always shared a studio, so running a space on my own felt like a whole new adventure. But Stoke Road immediately felt like the right place to be.”
The shop has been a success, complementing her wholesale business that supplies stock to shops worldwide. “It wasn’t like starting from scratch, as people already knew my work. The shop was a bonus, and a way to connect directly with the community,” she says.
Finding her style
“My first designs were all in my original blueandwhite style,” Tracy explains, “but the collage work has really taken over now.”
Tracy laughs as she recalls how it all began: “Honestly, it was almost by accident. One Sunday afternoon I was just playing around in my garden studio, getting messy, and I put together a collage of the Gosport waterfront. I shared it online and suddenly everyone was asking for prints. I thought – wow, people really connect with this.”
From that moment, commissions started to pour in. “I’ve done Priddy’s Hard, Stokes Bay, even Sydney Harbour and wedding venues. People ask me to capture their homes, their businesses, the places they love. It’s incredible.”
Her work has gone far beyond Gosport too. “I’ve collaborated with museums and archives across the UK, such as St Barbe, Petersfield, Suffolk Archives. To think something, I started as a bit of fun has grown into this… it blows me away,” Tracy laughs.
“As an artist, you can work for years without finding a style that resonates widely,” Tracy reflects. “But this collage style clearly struck a chord. I love playing, getting messy, and it’s incredible to see how people connect with it.”
Milestones and motivation
From kitchen-table beginnings to a thriving shop, Tracy is proud of what she’s achieved. “To be a full-time artist is one milestone. To open a shop and see it succeed has blown me away. I never imagined I’d get here. I’m nearly 60, and I can’t believe I finally did it.”
Tracy’s daughter, now 30, has inherited that drive. “I feel my journey really shows my daughter, in particular, that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams, go back into education, to take risks, to work hard. Confidence comes from seeing it done.”
Workshops and community
Tracy runs regular workshops at her shop in Stoke Road, from pet portraits, seascapes, florals designs to Christmas card making, welcoming small groups to explore collage and painting. “It’s never too late to learn a new skill and nothing is ever a failure as you always take something from it,” she says insightfully.
Living and working in Gosport continues to inspire her. “We have so much here – amazing views, rich heritage, beautiful architecture. The coast is hugely inspirational, and it comes through in my designs.”
Tracy’s also part of “The Art Pack,” a network of local artists who support and promote each other. “We’ve talked about organising Gosport Open Studios, bringing together artists, dance schools, and studios. It’s about celebrating creativity across the town. One day, I’d love to see that happen.”
Looking ahead
Tracy’s plans are as ambitious as ever. She has booked the Discovery Centre café for a month-long exhibition in March 2026, showcasing new local artwork. “I want to keep the shop thriving, bring out new designs, and create opportunities for people to come together. Gosport has so much to offer, and I love championing it through my work.”