This is my first Artweek. After many years of working intermittently on my art, the lockdowns had one good effect for me – I had more time and I at last started to focus.

Some of the paintings and collages that I am showing were inspired by the vast earthworks of the Iron Age fort, Maiden Castle. The art is not representational, but the sweeping lines, shapes and earth-y colours originated from my impressions of this wonderful man-made landscape. There are also ‘paintings’ of trees using Japanese paper, and abstract collages inspired by ancient standing stones and the sea henge in Norfolk. The largest is approximately A2 size, but the majority are on the small side.

We recently moved to Stanton St John, a village just outside Oxford, where I have been inspired by the wildlife and woods to write and illustrate a children’s book, ‘Badgers at Midnight’. It is to be published in time for Artweek. The illustrations include ten full page linocuts which will be on show. I felt the strong black and whites of linocut with the addition of midnight blue worked well for badgers in a moonlit wood.

I tend to work at my kitchen table, sometimes to the murmur of voices or music on the radio, but more often in complete silence.