Artist Statement

Art has always played an important part in my life, although often fitted in the cracks between raising a family and managing a busy career. Now retired I can fully indulge my passion for creating art. Bliss!
I work with acrylics - paints and inks, adding various ‘found’ materials to bring texture to my work. I like to be experimental with techniques, often creating an element of abstraction to my painting style, which I love.
Inspired by the landscape of the UK, Andalucia and some of the wonderful places I have visited. My paintings are not necessarily exact representations of a particular view but more about the essence of the landscape. Most important to me are the memories evoked by a particular location; atmosphere, colours and textures, weather conditions, how I was feeling at that moment.
Mainly I work in my studio, allowing my own personal interpretation of the landscape to flow on to the paper. Often the spontaneous glide of paint or the serendipitous effect of added textures suggests a feature of the landscape, which I love to develop, bringing individuality and vibrancy to my work.
El duende is a Spanish term for the spirit of evocation. It comes from inside as a physical/emotional response. It’s what gives you chills, what makes you feel as you respond to a performance or work of art. A more loose translation means having soul, a heightened state of emotion, expression and authenticity. This is what I seek to incorporate in my paintings.