I am an artist, biologist and natural historian based in central Oxford and exhibiting at Artweeks for my fifth year. This year I am proud to announce that I am the recipient of the Mary Moser Award, a prize given to a professional artist who has come to art as a second career.

For the past decade I have developed my practice as an artist specialising in trees. This is informed by my earlier and continuing work as a biologist and teacher with a lifelong interest in natural history. Working mainly with charcoal and chalk, I draw outside in all seasons and weather conditions, finding direct observation the best way to capture the spirit of place and the character of individual trees. My work has been exhibited and sold widely, with solo shows in Oxford, group exhibitions in London and Brighton and frequent commissions.

Current projects include drawing historic trees in the city and University of Oxford, mapping and illustrating significant trees in the grounds of Headington Rye school and exploring the relationship between land, trees and water through a drawing series on the Thames floodplain. Engagement with the ecological, historical and cultural aspects of trees is central to my work and is an important theme in my talks, lectures and writing. In recent years I have collaborated with musicians, academics and others to explore trees from different perspectives.

Oxford trees: field sketches in charcoal, chalk and pencil.

The work displayed for Artweeks 2025 will include charcoal drawings of trees made in the University Parks, Christchurch Meadow, Port Meadow, Wytham Woods and other locations within and close to the city. Working outside in all weathers and at all times of day, my drawings celebrate the beauty, individuality and resilience of the trees around us and capture the changing light and mood across the seasons.

Many of my pieces are relatively swift, opportunistic sketches, which seek to capture the feeling of being in the landscape. Others are more closely observed drawings of well-known trees, sometimes featuring the same individual tree or view in different seasons. All reflect a long-established drawing practice based on close observation and daily sketching in the field, informed by my background as a biologist and natural historian.

Original oak-framed drawings, limited edition prints, postcards, cards and hand drawn maps of the University Parks will be available. Sketchbooks of recent drawings across the year since May 2024 will also be on display. These often form a starting point for conversations about local trees as well as for discussions about commissions, collaborations and future projects.

Note that this year I will be welcoming visitors to my home in North Oxford as my usual University Parks venue is unavailable.