Being married to a diplomat means a life constantly on the move. No sooner are the packing cases open and their contents settled in one location than it's time to move again. The working diplomat has a job to go to but it's not always easy for his or her partner to work abroad as work permit restrictions may apply and few enough careers are portable.

Marrying a diplomat meant the end of a career as a biochemist for Brenda Biggar. She had studied science at UCD and worked in Temple Street Hospital for five years before she married. "I absolutely loved my work and, if I hadn't married John, I would never have given up my job," she says.

Shortly after their marriage, the Biggars were posted to Madrid and she had to get used to life as a diplomat's wife. "There was no question of my working in Spain," she says. "I didn't speak Spanish so that was also a drawback. Basically, with your husband out working all day, you have to make your own friends and find things which interest you to occupy your time."

The Biggars spent three years in Spain before moving back to Dublin for their next posting. From there they went to Geneva with two young sons in tow. It was during their stay in Switzerland that Biggar first began to explore the possibility of learning how to paint on porcelain.

"I had seen a painted porcelain coffee set at one time," she says, "and had thought it looked very nice. I filed the idea at the back of my head for future reference. When we moved to Switzerland the idea came back to me and I set about finding someone to teach me.

"I'm not artistic in the conventional sense - I had studied chemistry and my forte is science not art. But I'm good with my hands and you don't need to be able to paint on paper to be good at working on porcelain.

"Having found a teacher, I got started and found I enjoyed it very much. It's very relaxing and it's a hobby that can travel with me which is also important. I like working with perfectly formed pieces and the fineness and delicacy of porcelain appeals to me."

Having built up her skills as a porcelain artist and with her work beginning to sell, Biggar was prevailed upon by a group of women to set up a porcelain painting class. "I had no experience of teaching and I was terrified by the prospect and unsure how to approach it," she says. "But my arm was twisted so I came to teaching quite reluctantly. However, having got there I found I enjoyed both the teaching and the research I did beforehand to prepare for my classes."

Now back in Dublin after a posting to New York, Biggar is setting up porcelain painting classes in Dublin. The classes are held during the day and cost £50 with materials extra. None of the materials is available in Ireland but Biggar has built up a network of mail order suppliers and she provides students with what they need. Painting display plates is a popular way to begin but students can also learn to paint jewellery and other items such as vases and tiny porcelain boxes.

"If people have an interest I don't think they should be put off because they feel they're not artistic," she says. "The painting can be very simple and there is enormous satisfaction in being able to bring home something you've created.

"I keep the numbers in the class to between four and six so students get individual attention. It's an art that you can constantly learn more about. There are quite a lot of courses available in Britain and I've attended workshops there and also in Switzerland to learn about different techniques.

"I enjoy teaching beginners. It's really not possible to make a mess because you can always clean the design off. Nothing is fixed until the item is fired. Students can generally produce something very nice working at their own level. A design can be very simple and look good, you don't have to do complicated things."

While living in New York, Biggar had begun to sell her work through a number of specialist outlets. "I had quite a good system up and running very smoothly in New York, but I have to begin all over again since we've come home," she says. "When you come home it takes a while to get the house sorted out and I opened the last of the packing cases only a few weeks ago."

While some might see the diplomatic life as an exotic existence, Biggar gently dismisses the notion. "It might sound exciting but actually it can be quite a challenge especially if there are children. My husband knew what he was getting into because his father before him had been a diplomat and he told me not to expect a glamorous lifestyle.

"You have to be the sort of person who doesn't mind having to make new friends every four years or constant upheaval. For example, our boys were in seven schools by the time they were 12. It's a life that can be hard on children.

"Sorting out their education can be especially tricky if you have to move when they are at crucial ages. We finally opted for boarding school in Ireland and that has worked out well. Both myself and my husband had been through the boarding school system and we felt it would be the best option."

Contact: For information about forthcoming classes, phone Brenda Biggar at (01) 284 9675.