I paint in response to my daily walks with my dog, in the British countryside, interpreting the landscape in an emotional rather than representational way. I am moved by the way light falls on the land such as on a distant field, over a horizon or on trees in a wood, as well as the vastness and lines created by open spaces. In addition, I am fascinated by the changing seasons and how weather transforms the mood of a place. This provides my visual stimulation, which I translate into my paintings through energetic and intuitive mark making exploring the sense of place in a moment in time.
Nature and being in the open are important to me and is a constant comfort. My relationship with nature is restorative and my paintings explore the connection between the transcendency of nature and a feeling of freedom, tranquillity, and inner peace. My recent work has been influenced by the Covid pandemic, through the realisation that time spent alone in the landscape and away from daily distractions provides a solace. I hope to make a connection with the viewer that touches this emotional space making sense of what it is to be human, reflecting on our struggles and how through quiet contemplation we can achieve a sense of calm and stillness.
My approach to my paintings is experimental and energetic. I love getting my hands dirty and relish the visceral engagement of the surfaces of the paintings. Through multiple layers, I try to reveal the rawness of the landscape and what lies beneath. Using mixed media on canvas, board or paper, I express my emotions and feelings to the landscape by using strong value contrasts, variations in texture, fluctuating amounts of detail, and free mark making. I abstract forms, lines and textures from photographs, sketches and visual memory of my local landscapes. I apply marks loosely and economically, creating textures through splattering and scraping paint with palette knives, bare fingers, rags, hands – and occasionally a paintbrush – in order to explore the many layers of paint and drawn media. My colours are muted reflecting earth tones with small jewels of saturated colour reflecting the light and mood of the place. I keep working on my paintings until I am satisfied that through the building up and removing of layers, I have created a painting that resonates a sense of serenity and solitude.
Upcoming events
2023
- Herts Visual Arts Open Studios, St Albans, September
- Manchester Art Fair, November
Achievements and previous exhibitions
2023
- Fresh Art Fair, Chrysalis Art Collective, Cheltenham, April
- Society of Women Artists, Mall Galleries, London, June
- Ayot St Lawrence Art Show, June
- “Alone in the Landscape”, Group show with Hadfield Fine Art, Spring Gallery, Cheltenham, July
2022
- Surrey Contemporary Art Fair, March
- “Landlines”, Group Exhibition, Collective Gallery, St Albans, June
- Ayot St Lawrence Art Show, June
- Herts Visual Arts Big Art Fair, Hitchin, July
- St Albans Art Society Annual Exhibition, July
- Herts Visual Arts Open Studios, St Albans, September
- Windsor Contemporary Art Fair, November
2021
- Herts Visual Arts Big Art Fair, Hitchin Town Hall, July
- St Albans Art Society Annual Exhibition, July
- Herts Visual Arts Open Studios, St Albans, September
- Ayot St Lawrence Art Show, September
2020
- Herts Visual Arts Open Studios, Group Exhibition, Harpenden, September
2019
- “People and Places”, Group Exhibition, Camden Image Gallery, March
- Courtyard Arts, Open Exhibition, Hertford, April – Highly commended
- Hertford Art Society, Annual Open Exhibition, May
- Herts Visual Arts Big Art Fair, Hitchin, July
- “Sea and Land”, Group exhibition, The Wynd Gallery, Letchworth, August
- Herts Visual Arts Open Studios, St Albans, September
- Landmark Art Fair, Teddington, October
- “6 More” exhibition, Pop-Up Shop, Harpenden, October
2018
- Kimpton Art Show, Kimpton, April
- Courtyard Arts Open Exhibition, Hertford, April
- Bucks Art Weeks – with College Lake Artists, June
- Herts Visual Arts Big Art Fair, Hitchin, July
- St Albans Art Society Annual Exhibition, July
- Herts Visual Arts Open Studios, St Albans, September
2017
- Gallery, Hitchin – Runner-up of the Hertfordshire Life Landscape Painter of the Year competition – March 2017
- Kimpton Art Show, Kimpton, April
- Courtyard Café, Group Exhibition, St Albans, April
- Affordable S.Art Pop Up Art Exhibition, June
- St Albans Art Society Annual Exhibition, July
- Hertfordshire Visual Arts Open Studios, St Albans, September
- Harpenden Arts Club Annual Exhibition, November
Representation
Flint Gallery, Blakeney, North Norfolk
Hadfield Fine Art, Cheltenham