Big Skies Over Dartmoor

I am an expressive painter who creates semi-abstract landscape paintings inspired by my surroundings here in the South West. I hold a BA in Illustration from UWE and an MA in Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art.

 

I am fascinated by the way light, weather and seasons constantly change our environment. When I feel a strong connection with a particular place, I make regular visits to experience it at different times. The more I study the same place, the more I become compelled to draw and make marks in different ways. These regular visits push me to see with fresh eyes a place that is so familiar.

 

My process begins outdoors with location studies using large format sketch books. I work fast and fearlessly in inks and pastels to capture the movement and energy of the particular moment and my emotional reaction to it. I also use sidenotes and collect found objects scattered around me, which later become inspiration for my colour palette.

 

Back in the studio, I use my studies as a springboard for more developed pieces. Working primarily on the floor, I like to move freely around the canvas or board adding multiple layers of rich colour to reproduce what I saw and felt in the landscape. Using a combination of acrylic, emulsion and pastels I physically pour, drip and splash the paint adding expressive marks which bring contrast, energy and depth to the final piece.

Mixed Media on Wood Panel

55x55cm

Framed in an Open Frame