Born in Wellington, New Zealand, 1982. Vanessa completed a Bachelor of Applied Arts at Whitireia NZ in 2011. On graduating she was selected as artist in residence at Toi Pōneke Arts Centre, Wellington, and awarded the 2011 Fingers Graduate Award.

Vanessa has exhibited both throughout New Zealand and internationally. In 2016 she travelled to Germany, to exhibit with Handshake Alumni at the Einsäulensaal, Munich Residenz Palace, as part of Munich Jewellery week and the annual Handwerk & Design expo. Most recently she was selected to participate in EXPOSÉ, Cagnes-ser-Mer, France. A group exhibition curated by eight contemporary jewellers, selected from around the world to present their vision of tomorrow’s practices.