The ambiguity of spaces, the way planes appear and disappear, not defined but suggested by a small detail or a gesture of the paint, is at the heart of my practice. Reduced to subtle forms, I would like the viewer see an abstracted essence of land and sea, a minimal, peaceful scene. My process is one of using multiple layers of oil glazes to achieve depth of light and colour, while using the palette knife to add texture and definition. Painting for me is a contemplation of a favourite place, a coastal location which I love to return to.
The inspiration for the ‘ Copper’ series of paintings came after a visit to an estuary near Hayle in Cornwall – I loved the remoteness of the location. I started thinking about the history of the copper mining industry that had taken place there so many years ago, it intrigued me, and led to my experimenting with new ideas and colours and the beginning of a series of paintings inspired by copper.
I love living in Cornwall with it’s proximity to the coast and the inspiration it gives – I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
