I
paint in oils on canvas and anything else to hand –
paper, board, wardrobes and other reclaimed
materials. What interests me is the paint surface
itself - its colour and texture – the pieces are
usually shades of blue and I try and make them
shimmer by painting in layers and letting the
different layers show through. If something
recognisable emerges I paint it out, and in this
way I avoid a narrative element.
I
am short-circuiting the intellect and appealing
directly to the senses – to give the viewer a
visceral kick. Some pieces are messy and rough,
painted in the exact shade of blue green to set
your teeth on edge, jaw-shattering and sharp they
evoke a gasp of surprise. Others are a serene
ultramarine which calm and soothe. In many ways
these are antidotes to the perfunctory computerised
world.
Paradoxically, I am interested in drawing from the figure (I have taught life drawing for many years) and sometimes the marks and gestures in a drawing find their way into the paintings. Other sources include marks found in city streets, on walls, various letter fonts, and repeated patterns – usually of human origin, sometimes natural. I particularly like the processes of weathering and decay, especially on painted signs or surfaces, and the way human artefacts wear away leaving barely recognisable traces of their use. Occasionally I find an old surface that can become the substrate for a new painting.
After taking a science-based degree in Psychology I studied art at The Sir John Cass School of Art in London (now part of the London Metropolitan University), and in the 30 years since I have painted and exhibited widely. In 1995 I was a founder member of Rogue Studios in Manchester and worked there for a decade. I have recently moved to the Midlands and set up a studio near Stratford-upon-Avon.
Paradoxically, I am interested in drawing from the figure (I have taught life drawing for many years) and sometimes the marks and gestures in a drawing find their way into the paintings. Other sources include marks found in city streets, on walls, various letter fonts, and repeated patterns – usually of human origin, sometimes natural. I particularly like the processes of weathering and decay, especially on painted signs or surfaces, and the way human artefacts wear away leaving barely recognisable traces of their use. Occasionally I find an old surface that can become the substrate for a new painting.
After taking a science-based degree in Psychology I studied art at The Sir John Cass School of Art in London (now part of the London Metropolitan University), and in the 30 years since I have painted and exhibited widely. In 1995 I was a founder member of Rogue Studios in Manchester and worked there for a decade. I have recently moved to the Midlands and set up a studio near Stratford-upon-Avon.