Artist Statement

 

I take most of my inspiration from the landscape of Kent and it's coastline. With my still life paintings I like to use simple personal everyday objects, maybe a flower picked from the garden. I love my garden and return constantly to it in my paintings with the ever-changing seasons. It has a wild presence, evoking both countryside and coast, I often combine this with landscape paintings. I am particularly drawn to wild flowers, their movement in the wind; the swaying stems of the grasses and flowers,how they become jewels of colour in the landscape.

I work in acrylic and mixed media, on canvas, board or paper. When I paint I aim to combine texture and colour to reflect the subject I am painting. Sometimes with just mark making, so small areas of the painting create their own interest in a abstract form. I work initally very quickly and instinctively directly onto the canvas with colour, of which some areas I leave as the final mark. Then re-work areas overlaying colour to build on the first elements. I am always trying to imply space and a sense of calm, whilst the overall sensitive use of colour being the drive and inspiration for the final piece.

 

 Exhibitions

Rye Gallery, East Sussex, Spring Show, Jan 2012. 

West End House Gallery, Kent. Mixed Show, Nov 2011. 

Hybrid Gallery, Devon. Mixed Show, Nov 2011. 

Affordable Art Fair, London, with Bell Fine Art Gallery, Hampshire. Oct 2011. 

Kent Painters Show, Kent. Sept 2011. 

Battle contemporary Art Show, East Sussex. Sept 2011. 

Florum Art Show, Kent. Sept 2011. 

Bell Fine Art Gallery, Hampshire, Summer Show, July/Aug 2011. 

South East Open Studios, June 2011. 

Affordable Art Fair, Bristol, with Hybrid Gallery, Devon, May 2011.

West End House Gallery, Kent. Spring Show, April 2011-May 2011.

Rye Gallery, East Sussex. Christmas Show, ' Bells, Clementines and Furbelous'. Nov/Jan10/11.

West End House Gallery, Kent. Mixed Show, Nov 2010 

Cranbrook Art Fair, Kent. Nov 2010.

Devon Art Fair. Oct 2010.

Rhapsody House Gallery, Kent. Sept 2010 

Battle Contemporary Art Fair, East Sussex. Sept 2010.

Hybrid Gallery, Devon. ' Growing Gains', 4 persons. Sept 2010.

Rye Gallery, East Sussex. Summer Show. July-Sept 2010.

Rye Gallery, East Sussex. 'Paper, Art, See'. May-July 2010.

South East Open Studios. June 2010.

Affordable Art Fair, Bristol, with Hybrid Gallery, Devon, May 2010.

Rhapsody House Gallery, Kent. Jan 2010 

Rye Gallery, East Sussex. Christmas Show, ' Sugar-Plums and Holly Dancers'. Nov 2009- Jan 2010.

Rhapsody House Gallery, Kent. Nov 2009. 

Hybrid Gallery, Devon. Nov 2009 

Affordable Art Fair, London, with Avery Contemporary Art, Kent. Oct 2009.

Avery contemporary Art, Merriecroft, Kent. 'Freshers', solo show with accompanying new artists. Oct 2009.

Rye Gallery, East Sussex. Summer Show, ' Light Dances On'. July- Sept 2009.

South East Open Studios. June 2009.

Art in Store, Cranbrook, Kent. May 2009.

Rye Gallery, East Sussex. Spring Show. March 2009.

Handmade Frames, Rolvenden,Kent. Solo Show, June 2008.

 

Qualifications and Career History

 

Freelance Designer, 1995-2007

Head Designer for Whiston and Wright. One of the leading textile studios in the UK. 1989-1995

New Designer's Exhibition, London. 1989.

BA Hons Degree on Printed Textiles, Middlesex Polytechnic. 1986-1989.

Art Foundation, Maidstone College of Art. 1984-1985.