Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thea earned her BA at the University of British Columbia.  After travel around Europe Thea was accepted into Emily Carr College of Art and Design, where she was soon busy studying Graphic Design (1986-1988) specializing in architectural renderings and experiencing the wonders of good quality watercolours for the first time.  One day at a lunch stop shortly after coming to Port Hardy, she saw an outline map of northern Vancouver Island on a placemat. The outcome was her first work in watercolour, and first published work.