Artist Statement
My art brings me a feeling of expansiveness and a connection with something far greater than I really understand. When I work I abandon completely to the process and let the creativity take over, losing myself in my work and the energy of the subject. Emancipation from conscious thought brings out something more profound and deeply meaningful than when I have control over my emotions. The experience is undoubtedly spiritual and I feel this is manifest in my work. The reward is when the observer shares the experience.
I adore the materials I work with. The rich sensuality of oils is stimulating, the smell, thickness and texture unquestionably evocative. I move freely between background and subject as I paint; starting with open fluid movements, trusting the process as the painting takes shape. As the energy of the work intensifies I use thicker paint to contrast tone and texture. Generally I work from darker colours to lighter ones, often leaving some areas where the paint is almost transparent, letting the canvas have its say.
The stimulus for my work is different for each piece of work and subject. The abstract non-figurative pieces are often aroused from contemplative situations and flow in a relaxed and meditative way. Natural scenes seem to provoke moods which are channeled into the more conventional seascapes and land forms, whereas figurative works emerge in many ways.
The influences for my art are varied. Pissarro and Monet made early impressions and remain important. More recently the work of Mark Rothko has been meaningful and influential. My own work is developing in ways I did not expect. In Italy, where I lived and painted for 10 years, my work was dominated by tones of blue. Moving to England has resulted in a dominance of passionate, warm colours and a current preoccupation with the beauty of the female form.