Artist statement

Creating a painting is a process of discovery for me. I work in acrylic, ink, oil and also use paper. I want to paint the feeling of being present in a landscape at a particular point in time. Maybe that time is not now. It may be a scrap of a memory or a fleeting glimpse of light and colour noted in a sketch and reworked later.

I try in my work to evoke a sense of place, to capture the feeling and essence of the landscape rather than re-creating it in paint. Returning to favourite childhood haunts and seeing them afresh has given my painting a new dimension allowing memories to combine with new sights and experiences.
My work has always been based on observation and drawing outdoors is fundamental to my working methods. I find more and more now that I want to retain the spontaneity of the initial impressions and sketches in the final pieces.
I enjoy experimenting with mixed media, creating surface and texture in the paintings through the use of collage, and varying the thickness of the paint from impasto to glazes. It’s a balance between the inspiration and reference point of the landscape and allowing the painting to gain its own identity.

Education and Awards
1995 BA (hons) Edinburgh College of Art
1997 RSA Benno Schotz Award