Artist's Statement
I am fascinated by the primal instinct we have to be close to nature; the joy and peace we feel in its presence, both physically and mentally.
I see my work as an emotional response to this instinct; an intimate landscape that mimics and amplifies nature, transporting the viewer to a place of wonder and beauty evoking emotion and intrigue.
Entwined within my pieces is an awareness of the fragile state of our planet and the delicate balance of life itself. The work is built on different levels, where the tactile quality of raw pigments, delicate handmade paper, foraged dead plants and collage papers reveal an imprint and trace of place, where the past and present interplay, allowing us room to contemplate the future state of our planet and the ever increasing threat from climate change.
The work's finer details, forms and textures reflect what we see when we look at our surroundings from different viewpoints, particularly up close. I am intrigued by the tiny details we see when we give ourselves the time and space from our busy lives to watch and observe the natural world. Slowing down helps us to appreciate the symbiotic relationship between life forms and the intricate tapestry of colours, textures and forms that we see when peering into a glassy rock pool or looking at a forest floor. These environments are beautiful but fleeting, ever changing and evolving, like the seasons and cycle of life itself.
In recent years I have been reflecting on my own impact on our planet as an artist; looking at the harmful toxins and plastics so many art materials contain. I am on a journey to find non-toxic materials, using foraged and hand made pigments and papers where possible. Now my work is not only inspired by nature, but nature has become part if the work itself. A trace of place now being present in the work.
The creative process starts with me immersing myself in the wilderness; cold water swimming, wild camping and foraging, whilst admiring the power and beauty of the outdoors. This is my 'happy place’. On my travels I gather nuggets of inspiration for my work in the form of photographs, plants, as well as earth and rocks to be made into pigments for paint.
My work comes to life in my studio, where I embrace the process of sketching, ripping, printing and manipulating surfaces. Exploration and play are at the heart of my approach. I enjoy pushing the boundaries of the mediums I work with, experimenting with a wide variety of unusual techniques and processes. The physical act of making paints, collage papers and my own paper excite me, giving my work authenticity and history. My whole process is a dance between control and unpredictability, intuition and analysis; mirroring our relationship with nature and what it is to be human.