"As an expressionist landscape artist, I strive to capture, in visual terms, my emotional response to a place, as opposed to the nature of it’s physicality. The most crucial element for me is to capture the intangibles of intense mood, energy and atmosphere. Striving to encourage the viewer to ‘feel’ a response to my interpretation of place and time.
In order to achieve this, I prefer to work entirely from memory. I choose not to jog my recollection of places by sketching, looking at photographs or taking notes. In this way I can be sure that what I create is the pure essence of my response to the world around me. As well as taking inspiration from the countryside, I find I am continually drawn to the sea. In particular, culture and history forms the foundation for much of my work.
I allow my paintings to evolve and develop their unique characteristics as I work on them. Therefore I do not start with a firm idea of what they will become - I simply watch and respond to the marks I make.
Initially I try to think as little as possible as I paint, preferring to use my intuition to guide the progress of the piece. Applying layer over layer; blending; adjusting tone, colour and contrast; forming shapes until they become meaningful. As the landscape reveals itself, I then attempt to create harmony and wholeness. I continue to work until the painting ‘feels’ complete.
This takes as long as it takes, tweaking and adjusting, until the balance is right. Spontaneity is crucial for me - it creates the energy and captures the spirit of the piece.
It is the uniqueness of each journey of construction and creation that keeps me painting. I hugely enjoy the roller coaster of ups and downs, as a painting ebbs and flows to it’s final destination."
In order to achieve this, I prefer to work entirely from memory. I choose not to jog my recollection of places by sketching, looking at photographs or taking notes. In this way I can be sure that what I create is the pure essence of my response to the world around me. As well as taking inspiration from the countryside, I find I am continually drawn to the sea. In particular, culture and history forms the foundation for much of my work.
I allow my paintings to evolve and develop their unique characteristics as I work on them. Therefore I do not start with a firm idea of what they will become - I simply watch and respond to the marks I make.
Initially I try to think as little as possible as I paint, preferring to use my intuition to guide the progress of the piece. Applying layer over layer; blending; adjusting tone, colour and contrast; forming shapes until they become meaningful. As the landscape reveals itself, I then attempt to create harmony and wholeness. I continue to work until the painting ‘feels’ complete.
This takes as long as it takes, tweaking and adjusting, until the balance is right. Spontaneity is crucial for me - it creates the energy and captures the spirit of the piece.
It is the uniqueness of each journey of construction and creation that keeps me painting. I hugely enjoy the roller coaster of ups and downs, as a painting ebbs and flows to it’s final destination."
