I have always enjoyed working from life; the unpredictably and freshness of a painting put together at speed, in the moment. Until lockdown forced me to do otherwise. Liberating me to explore areas that I might otherwise have overlooked.

Unusual times creates an unusual body of work. My work has become a jumble of pieces created from life in rapid one - two hour sittings, painted instinctively with little planning. Happy accidents from a pre-covid time. Alongside pieces that are more about playing with paint, balancing colours, marks and composition. To this end I have found myself working more and more in my sketchbook. Something I have always enjoyed, but have not used in such an explorative manner since I was a student. I have begun to value these works on paper as much as the finished paintings. They are an honest exploration of ideas, without pressure to be anything special.

I have no idea where I am going with this, a hazy destination is somewhere up ahead no doubt. Occasionally a study develops into a painting, and of course they all contribute. I think what underpins my work is curiosity about people, a playful love of colour, and painterly exploration.