My work is abstract or semi-abstract, with the intention of suggesting and simplifying, but almost always with the natural world in mind. The landscape and my garden are my main sources of inspiration. My aim is to evoke a feeling or impression rather than portray a specific moment in time or a recognisable place (or thing, or person). I feel that pleasure can come from the pure sensation of seeing – without the necessity for a work of art to be a realistic depiction of something. I like to use unexpected colours and bold shapes, although I can also be more subtle at times.
My approach is experimental, which means that I use a variety of styles and media for painting and drawing – from collage to acrylic paint to watercolour (and occasionally oil paint), as well as ink and charcoal. I work from sketches made outside in the landscape or in my garden as well as from photos and memory.
I think that my artwork probably reflects how I dress. Sometimes I go wild with colour and wear clashing pink and red. At other times I prefer the clean contrast of black and white, with perhaps a pop of colourful lipstick.
One of my great pleasures in life is looking at other people’s art. I’m inspired by other artists as much as I am by the natural world, and my interest in art has become almost an obsession now that I’m at a stage in my life when I have more time to enjoy it.
I would like to work large one day, but at the moment I’m constrained by the fact that I work in the small room in our house that’s officially designated as the ‘study’. So most of my artwork is small or medium-sized.