Biography
I studied Architecture and Interior Design in Melbourne, Australia, and later at Bournemouth College of Art. During my career in design, drawing and painting remained a constant presence in my creative life.
Time spent living in Australia, absorbing a vast and wondrous land, continues to be a strong influence in my work. Broad horizons, expansive landscapes, coastlines, and oceans observed from an elevated viewpoint inspire paintings of dramatic colour, mystery, and moments remembered, or are a response to return visits.
The process of painting has meaning for me, as ideas develop and often move towards abstraction, influenced by the subject matter. My paintings are usually created in a series, allowing creativity to flow between each work. Distance from visual reality is key to my work, bringing an intuitive and exciting time of remembering the emotions of my initial drawings. This is especially true of work inspired by Australia, Singapore, South Africa, and the Hampshire and Dorset coastline.
Abstract light, merging translucent colour, and the movement of dance feature in my theatrical ballet acrylic, mixed media paintings on birchwood panels. These evolve from spending many hours with the English National Ballet and watching performances with the Royal Ballet, usually drawing in complete darkness.
Flowers, often painted on an enlarged scale, are created in watercolour and ink on handmade paper. The Life Within series, drawn from observations in the life drawing studio, features discreet figure drawings in ink on handmade paper.
If you’re inspired by my work and would like to experience it in person, I warmly invite you to visit my studio gallery in Lymington, Hampshire. Please feel free to get in touch to arrange a visit or to discuss any pieces that catch your eye. I’d love to share my creative journey with you.