Painter and collagist. She was a student at Oxford Polytechnic for its arts foundation course, 1978–9, then graduated from Central School of Art and Design with an honours degree in fine art, 1979–82. Her work was specifically based on the coastal and inland landscapes of West Dorset, but instead of being representational it abstracted the forms of sea and land. Gardiner appeared in mixed exhibitions at Allsop Gallery, Bridport, 1991–2; at Athelhampton House, Dorset, in 1992; and from 1991 showed solo at Duncan Campbell Gallery. She gained a South West Arts Award, 1999–00, in 1999–00 and 2000–01 Bournemouth University commissions.