The stone cottage where I have lived is in a quiet, rural setting near the village of Marshfield. There are many footpaths here that lead down to the steep, wooded hills of St Catherine's Valley. I take my main inspiration from the these beautiful natural surroundings. The colour, tone and light of my work comes directly from the ever-changing and subtle quality of the landscape I see every day .I work on my own from my home.
Before starting a new series of paintings, I often have a period of contemplation, walking the countryside; photographing new subject matter; working through thoughts and ideas on paper by writing or making rough, compositional sketches. Usually I am clear from the start what size the pictures will be, its surface, (paper, canvas or board), and the colour ground from which I want to begin.
Priming with a mid tone base layer I often work on five or six pictures simultaneously. Using brushes, pencil, soft and rough cloths, sandpaper and various scratching tools, a process of building up and taking away takes place until the composition, tone and colour vibrancy feels right. I enjoy the freedom of work that is inspired by the natural world or a still life observation, and which then takes key elements and presents them in an abstract or simplified form, experimenting with the surface textures and creating a strong sense of mood and design.
At present the work I find I refer to most includes : the ancient murals and sculptures of Egypt and Assyria; the artists of St. Ives and Ben Nicholson's paintings in particular; Bonnard, Gaugin, Rousseau, Spencer; the ancient sculpture of Benin and the sculptures of Henry Moore together with the land art of Andy Goldsworthy.
Before starting a new series of paintings, I often have a period of contemplation, walking the countryside; photographing new subject matter; working through thoughts and ideas on paper by writing or making rough, compositional sketches. Usually I am clear from the start what size the pictures will be, its surface, (paper, canvas or board), and the colour ground from which I want to begin.
Priming with a mid tone base layer I often work on five or six pictures simultaneously. Using brushes, pencil, soft and rough cloths, sandpaper and various scratching tools, a process of building up and taking away takes place until the composition, tone and colour vibrancy feels right. I enjoy the freedom of work that is inspired by the natural world or a still life observation, and which then takes key elements and presents them in an abstract or simplified form, experimenting with the surface textures and creating a strong sense of mood and design.
At present the work I find I refer to most includes : the ancient murals and sculptures of Egypt and Assyria; the artists of St. Ives and Ben Nicholson's paintings in particular; Bonnard, Gaugin, Rousseau, Spencer; the ancient sculpture of Benin and the sculptures of Henry Moore together with the land art of Andy Goldsworthy.
