ABOUT
Biography
Drawing and painting have been my passion since I was a small child.
My formal training took place at Barnet College, West Surrey College
of Art, Sir John Cass school of Art and Brighton University, where I
graduated in 1991 with a BA Hons in Fine Art.
Following my graduation I founded the Bear Cave Gallery with an
award from The Princes Youth Business Trust. I co-ran the gallery,
with my then partner for six years. The ethos of the Bear Cave was
to provide exhibition space to newly emerging artists and graduates
as well as showing the work of established artists. The venue was also
host to regular creative events, musical, theatrical, educational and
social.
In 1997 major life changes gave me the opportunity to study and work in Horticulture and Environmental Conservation.
The experience of being immersed in the variety and abundance of nature had a profound effect on my artwork and remains an enduring theme to this day which is reflected in my many paintings of untamed gardens and landscapes of Sussex, Ireland and Portugal, all of which are painted on location which enables me to capture the atmosphere of place which I endeavour to do in all my paintings. The medium of watercolour lends itself well to this method of working.
I also enjoy working in other mediums particularly oils which I tend to use in my more mystical and fantastical works. Very often the entire image will appear complete in my minds eye like a snapshot of the painting to come. I will then do a rough sketch to fix the image in my mind and though the painting will change and develop to some extent over the weeks and months it takes to complete, it will still usually be recognisable to that original idea. my inspirations come from music, literature, film and theatre and poetry, my own life experiences and always draw on the magnificence of nature both red in tooth and claw and sublimely beautiful which I find completely overwhelming. I consider my paintings a visual prayer to nature.
The actual process of painting is extremely important to me. My watercolours are sometimes quite minimal allowing the paint to free flow to express light and movement. My oil paintings tend to be highly worked beginning with accurate measured Atelier drawing, which I studied at Sir John Cass and more recently at Paddock Studios in Lewes with Pete Cernis, underpinning the painting. The painting is detailed, textured and I like to use traditional glazing techniques.
Exhibitions
Venice Biennale 2022. 'The Milk of Dreams'.
Exhibition Anima Mundi 'Visions' at Gallery Palazzo Albrizzi - Capello Venice.
Lewes Artwave Festival.
Paddock Studios Annual Exhibition 2020, 2021, 2022.
Carrion Gallery Venice, Casanova Exhibition, 2017.
Art and Poetry entries to 'The Book of Magic, Power and Prescence'. Published by Iris Press 2012.
The Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, The Mall Gallery, London 2010.
Paddock Studios Annual Exhibitions, Lewes 2010,2012,2013.
A walk on the Wild Side, Solo Exhibition at The Crypt Gallery, Seaford 2019. The exhibition included a dance performance by Mim King.
Lewes Artwave Solo Exhibitions 2005,2007, 2008, 2017.
Heartlands a Solo Exhibition at The Garden Room Gallery, Lewes 2007.
Director, exhibition founder and contributing artist at The Bear Cave Gallery from 1991 to 1996.
Skylark Theatre Company, Set Design for Unto The Earth 2004.
The Old Bull Arts Centre, London.
Various private commissions.
Also I am a Qualified Teacher in Adult Education. Certificate in Education.
