About

Ideally I would be a nomad: for me, the journey is as interesting and important, as the destination. Making paintings is also a journey, an iterative process of discovery, using colour, graphic marks, shapes and spaces. I aim to create a visual record of memory that is as intriguing, as it is  provocative of the viewer's own memories. 

Through the process of making drawings, taking photographs, collecting information and objects, I record my impressions of a journey or place. This enhances my visual lexicon and provides a starting point for paintings. I work on several pieces at one time, to develop ideas, allow nuances to appear and keep the work fresh. The blank white surface, paper, canvas or wood panel, is activated by shapes or marks, made using paint, pastel, charcoal or graphite.  Adding colour with knife, trowel or gestural brush strokes, I create many layers of texture and colour, that I may then remove, by rubbing, scratching or sanding, to strengthen or obliterate the previous marks.  The process of repeatedly, covering and uncovering, allows unexpected and interesting themes to surface and my response to these, brings further investigation and deeper understanding to the work. I never know what the final picture will look like, it’s a struggle, I’m surprised to see it emerge and exhilarated when it’s complete.

Born in Lancashire, I studied painting, sculpture and textiles in Blackpool, Manchester and Bristol, graduating with BA (Hons) Fine Art in 1978.  I hold a PG Dip Youth and Community Work and an MEd Community Education. I have made work consistently whilst teaching  and working in community and participatory arts. Working with people and communities developing arts projects, runnning workshops, courses, for 20 years has been fascinating and fulfilling.  Perhaps, the pinnacle of this career came as I led a community project to raise funds and build an aspirational arts centre in Edinburgh https://northedinburgharts.co.uk/  Working closely with the community, staff, artists and architects,  I project managed the build and provided artistic input to the design team, including creating the  exterior tiled walls and script filled pavements.