about
....my work
An established fine artist I currently focus my artistic practice on painting, underpinned by close observational drawing.
My work is contemporary realism rooted in the tradition of representational painting and I am well known for my still lives which often have a bit of a twist!
I am inspired by the history and associations inherent in ordinary objects and materials particularly from the domestic environment. Some I select because they hold a personal significance, others I collect which have an unknown history
Painting directly from life I employ a representational style to evoke the qualities of the subject which first attracted my attention, without losing the physicality of oil paint on a flat surface.
Now working in a rural studio, I have returned to exploring the landscape as subject and enjoy capturing the moods and weather of the British countryside and coast. And the Covid Lockdowns have also inspired the inclusion of seasonal flowers in my still lives.
During the 1st Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 I became involved in an initiative to paint portraits of NHS workers. This had the wonderful result of re-kindling my love of portraiture and I am now accepting commissions to paint portraits
..... myself
My path to becoming a professional artist has not been straightforward!
Despite having drawn and painted all my life, I was unable to pursue art at school as it didn’t fit in with the other more ‘academic’ and scientific subjects. Hence on leaving school I studied for a Chemistry degree before having my two children and it was only while bringing the children up that I found the opportunity to develop further artistically.
I initially studied with the Open College of the Arts and then undertook an Access to Art and Design course at North Oxfordshire School of Art, in Banbury. After this I moved on to study part time for a Fine Art degree with De Montfort University as a ‘mature student’, finally graduating in 2002 with First Class Hons. During, and after, this time I also worked part-time as a picture researcher and photo librarian in a photographic library, though the rise in digital photography led to redundancy 2007.
I have continuously developed my painting since this time working from Commercial Square Studios, High Wycombe 2015-18, and now thoroughly enjoying working from my new studio in the lovely village of Turville in the Chilterns, see Turville Studios for info