I find inspiration in my environment, and the way being ‘in nature’ heightens my awareness of both that moment in time and of times past. I am fascinated by the unpredictable memories which surface in response to the physical sensations of being in a place: the sights, sounds, smells, and contact.
I am interested in the co-existence of natural and cultivated aspects of the landscape: wildness and the human presence in fields, hedgerows, and ancient roads. Certain places, and features of the landscape such as paths, connect us to preceding generations; their inscription on the land is the living presence of history.
Seasonal changes in the colours and forms of the landscape have a profound impact on my outlook which is reflected in my work. I paint while my experience of a place is still fresh in my mind. I make sketches and take photographs on location and develop these further in the studio to better emphasize what I find most compelling, this involves a series of quick studies exploring composition, light, and colour. The resulting paintings are also produced in series and executed quickly to retain the immediacy of gestural brush strokes and my own closeness to the subject.
