She would doodle her way through corporate meetings of the TV company HBO and she would sell her sketches on the streets of New York.

Now, the artist affectionately known as Ms B, The Doodle Queen, has become Masterworks' latest artist in residence, with her show 'Energetic Flow' opening tonight.

Barbara Russell is largely a self-taught artist, who knew she was an artist as she doodled through corporate meetings at HBO where she worked as an accountant.

"It was killing me!" she said. "One and one is two, I got that. I didn't want to hear it, I didn't want to see it."

From there she went on to work as the development director of the September 11th Fund, the fund set up to assist victims and families of the 2001 terrorist attacks, and although it was satisfying, her said her need to create persisted.

"I began to making a weekly doodle art series on the streets and trains of New York City," she said. "I used recycled paper and cardboard stock to sell to the public.

"I remained true to myself as a working artist with a distinct style to sell to all those who passed by."

But other artists told her she was too good for the streets and that her work should be exhibited. "I would say, 'one day that will happen'," said Ms Russell.

And happen it did and she has had shows in galleries around New York City.

She learned about the artist in residence programme during a trip Bermuda, which she had visited as a child, to see the 2008 Music Festival and started the three month residency in January.

"Being here in the winter, I experienced dark and stormy days and nights, so I captured rain and wind forces to support my cellphone photography images.

"I felt like I received a divine light that enabled me to create many series of work that included art, cellphone photography and the ability to write fictional short stories and poems to reflect my time here.

Even when I rode the pink buses everyday I gained insight as to the wondrous exterior pastel paint choices of buildings, intermixed with tropical overgrown trees, and beautiful seas as I travelled from St. George's into town.

"From this beautiful outlook I have created a cellphone photography exhibit that has many viewers surprised in a happy tranquil Zen-like state of mind.

"Due to the violence that has caused people to lose their lives I wanted to create works of art that included poetry that would uplift people to choose ways of life that support peace and peace of mind."

Some of her highlights of her stay in Bermuda so far include being a juror in the Charman Prize, and learning about the business side of what it takes to run a museum; doodling with students in the day and working with adults doodling in the night at Chewstick, where she will doodle tomorrow night.

She has also visited some schools, adding: "It was exciting to visit Sandys Middle School and West Pembroke School to understand the dynamics of an art teacher's day and to gain the love and respect of students who wanted to learn more about art and how it has affected the world."

'Energetic Flow' opens today at 5.30 p.m.