About

In our culture of high activity and increasing stimulation from multiple information sources, the act of painting is my way of re-connecting to a more intuitive way of being and of finding a quiet focus.

Although I’ve always painted I spent many years in the field of architecture both working as an architect and teaching design to undergraduate architects. I moved to painting full-time after participating in courses run by the artists, Louise Balaam NEAC RWA and Nicholas Wilton.

My architectural background of course informs my painting. My process balances intuition with control and I’ll often develop the suggestion of a form as it appears or emerges within a field of colour and texture. I also like to create a sense of space within the surface of the painting.

Once I’m in the studio and start working on a painting, I apply paint to the prepared boards in an intuitive way, exploring the interplay of colours, textures, gestures and mark-making with different tools. My techniques involve building up layers, scraping back, rubbing, blending, scratching and splattering the paint onto the surface. I work on a number of paintings at the same time, moving between them to stay fresh.

After some time, and as the layers build up, the beginnings of a composition or a particular quality of colour combination and mark-making emerges. I try to stay alert and to notice when this happens. When it does, I follow and build upon it. The process is one of controlling the work as it develops whilst remaining open to taking risks and responding to chance occurrences along the way.

Sometimes it’s a process that flows, but often it’s an all-engaging wrestle; gaining, losing and then re-gaining control of the painting over a period of time.

I live with my husband in Altrincham, Manchester, UK, have two adult children and work from a purpose-built studio at the end of the garden.