Travel and Performance have played a major part in the development of my work.
Having travelled extensively in the Middle East, showing works in Dubai and Muscat, the Arabic culture and its landscape have become a big part of what my work is about. Although still a big influence the more recent travels in India have become a great source of colour and story telling possibilities for new work
The colour and chaos the sacredness and serenity the beauty and the profane.
I fell in love with this country and to work on canvases when back in the studio in Cornwall is a constant flow of memories and colour.
I paint whilst travelling and keep sketch books of quick observational drawings which serve to jog my memory back in the studio and to just place the image in my head.
My process back in the studio is to work on a number of canvases at the same time. Starting with no specific idea the paintings grow as the story emerges from the paint. I tend to bounce from one painting to another finding colours that work creating a rhythm throughout.
I’m looking forward to travelling and painting more extensively in India in the coming year.
Performance of all kinds has always been of interest to me. Personally I have always been involved with playing in bands and love the energy of a live event, be it the time spent backstage or on the stage.
Performance can mean many things the actor the singer or the inner performer I believe we all have.
Having been involved with festivals over many years, watching and sometimes participating, I have built up memories and a catalogue of images to create from including the circus, Burlesque, dance, theatre, street entertainers and the general essence of carnival.
The works I produce from these experiences are sometimes from life or other times are the memories of an event.
Recently I have been painting live on stage to a performance of David Bowie songs. The event, called the Bowie lounge, involves theatre, dance and music. My response is to the theatrical and to the images from the lyrics of the songs.
Also the continuous project I’m working on, the Black Cloth project, deals with peoples inner performance.
Posing in a black cloth in my studio, the participants have the freedom to be and to do whatever they feel, producing some gt performance and theatre from which I am able to produce paintings from.
India is a great source of performance. I spent one great evening watching and drawing dancers from Rajasthan. The movement, sounds and colour exploded into my head and have led to numerous works being produced.
CV
Fine art degree.. Falmouth Art College 1996
Solo shows and group shows
Majlis Gallery Dubai.. 2000-2017 shows and residencies
Bait Munza gallery Muscat Oman 2004-2014
Campden gallery solo shows 2008-2017
Kings road gallery London solo shows 2007-2011
Janet Rady fine art London-Middle East
Tresco gallery Isles Scilly
Beside the wave gallery Falmouth 2004-2016
Cricket gallery London 2015-2017
Collections- Marks and Spencers 2012
Barclays bank Dubai 2010
St levan Estate Cornwall 2014-2017
