My artistic journey is a love affair with light, colour, and the fleeting beauty of the natural world.  It is a dialogue between myself and my subjects, an exploration of form, texture, and emotion.  I am drawn to the simple things in life, the quiet beauty that often goes unnoticed.  Flowers, in particular, capture my imagination.  Their delicate forms, vibrant colours, and ephemeral nature offer endless possibilities for artistic expression.  As I observe them, I am struck by their intricate details, their resilience, and their vulnerability.

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The arrangement of the flowers is a deliberate choice.  My canvas a stage upon which the flowers perform.  Petals unfurling like soft whispers creating a sense of intimacy, the way they intertwine and overlap a visual metaphor for the interconnectedness of all things.  Each flower, though unique, is part of a larger whole.  They are united by their shared beauty and their vulnerability to the passage of time.

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As I work, I am drawn to the interplay of space, the way the flowers emerge from the darkness, a beacon of hope in a world often shrouded in uncertainty.  Mindful of the space surrounding each flower being as important as the flower itself, providing a visual counterpoint, allowing the flower to breathe and be seen.  The relationship between the flower and the negative space akin to the relationship between individuals in a community.  Like Yin and Yang, each essential to the other, and together they create a harmonious whole.

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The flowers in my paintings are more than just botanical specimens.  They are symbols of human relationships, of love, loss, and longing.  They represent the beauty and fragility of life, the joy of connection, and the pain of separation.   Just as flowers bloom, wither, and die, so too do our relationships.  We experience moments of joy and sorrow, love and loss.

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The Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi, which celebrates the beauty of imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness resonates deeply with me.  I find beauty in the imperfections of nature, in the cracks and crevices, the blemishes and scars.  These imperfections are what make each flower unique, a testament to the individuality of all living things.

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The process of painting is a meditative experience, a time for introspection and reflection.  It allows me to connect with a deeper level of consciousness, to tune into the rhythm of the universe.  Each stroke of the brush is a gesture of love, a testament to the beauty and fragility of life.  Each painting a study in contrasts, a delicate dance of light and shadow that draws the eye into a world of quiet beauty.

In a world filled with chaos and uncertainty, art offers a much-needed respite.  It allows us to connect with something larger than ourselves, to find solace in beauty, and to hope for a better future.  Through my art, I hope to inspire others to see the beauty in the everyday, to appreciate the simple things, and to find joy in the journey.

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My work is firmly rooted in tradition, but it also embraces contemporary artist practices.  I am influenced by a wide range of artists.  As well as being inspired by the naturalism, attention to detail and romance behind Dutch Still Life Flower Masterpieces from the 17th and 18th century, I am excited by the translucent colours and dynamic flow in paintings by Filipo Lippi, Fragonard, Rubens, Veronese and Turner.  My work contains numerous historical references from Japanese Art to contemporary painters such as Jim Dine (Flowers and Plants) and Georgia O’Keeffe.  By blending traditional techniques, (including those by the old masters such as imprimatura, underpainting in brunaille, verdaccio or grisaille) with modern sensibilities, I aim to create a unique and distinctive style.

 

I'm honoured to have been taught painting and drawing at Camberwell College of Arts in the early 90s by some great artists including Euan Uglow, Humphrey Ocean and Paul Coldwell.  I was also hugely inspired by John McNorton (now artistic director at Draw International, who enriched my knowledge in theoretical and two-dimensional studies on my Master of Arts course at Cardiff University.

I graduated with a First-Class BA Hons Degree from Camberwell College of Arts in 1994 and went on to gain a Post Graduate Certificate in Education, and a Master of Arts Degree with Distinction from Cardiff University in 1996.  I taught in both secondary art education and as a senior lecturer in higher education for 15 years and worked as an art coordinator for the Royal Borough of Kingston.  In 2008 I returned to my hometown in Wiltshire and began to practice and exhibit as a professional artist. 

In addition to painting for galleries I am very proud to have worked in partnership with English Heritage since 2016 on an exclusive range of artwork for their gift shops and sites. My work has been exhibited nationally and is in private collections worldwide as well as within the archive at the public collection at the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre.