Artist Statement

My fine art paintings are inspired by the landscape of the Derbyshire Peak District where I live. More particularly I look closely at how each season changes in light levels, colours, temperature and growth habit. Fleeting reflections and shadows fascinate me.

Painting is incredibly soothing for me and all comes from my connection to the natural world. I am a big believer in healing from immersion in the natural world. I love the atmospherics of a place and capturing these on canvas. For example, I love to see my breath revealed on an icy cold day as it suddenly appears before me, reflections in water, shadows of trees, foliage and visually depicting birdsong. I love the morning chorus at dawn, the splash on a lake with its mystery depths below and fog lifting from the trees. I use natural materials such as plants, twigs and thistles to apply paint, which further strengthens this link.

Painting intuitively is definitely best! I trust my 'sixth sense' to make marks in my painting to bring out the unexpected, the surprising and the hidden. I use many paint layers to create texture, building wet onto dry paint, scratching through. Removing paint is as important to my art process as adding paint.

My life is enriched so much through my painting. It gives me a fulfilling life and confidence. The more I explore, the better my work becomes and the more joy I get from it.