My Process

I am constantly curating images and ideas that I would like to paint.These days this is more a digital record This usually centres around something or someone that I love … If I paint a portrait it is because I have found something in the subject that I love---Character , uniqueness, beauty , a compelling story , or it may be of someone I love!

Flowers to me are irresistible. They are one of the ultimate expression of nature’s love . I have a large garden and walk with my dog Oskar around the beautiful area I live in taking inspiration from the beauty I am surrounded by each changing season.

I am driven by colour and the relationship between colours. Oh… and of course texture..

I love working with luscious buttery oil paint, layering it down until every surface of the canvas is covered .

The worst part for me is the long wait until they are dry, so I usually have 4 or 5 paintings on the go at any one time.

I also love working with thinner oil glazes and transparent layers which gives a 3 dimensional look to my portraits of unique characters .

I often use my digital skills to develop themes before I commit to canvas, and if a painting is just not quite working, I will take a photo of it into Photoshop and play round with colour balance and composition .Of course there is always that painting that never quite gets there or that gets overworked. I have learnt that this is all part of the journey. There are unfinished works tucked in the corner of my studio, not yet abandoned, but waiting patiently for that moment when I know exactly what was the missing ingredient.