My still life compositions suggest forms that never quite materialise, the vibrant colours, shapes and patterns at times breaking away from reality. Throughout my artistic career I have tried to push the boundaries of watercolour to create powerful combinations of colour equal to any medium. I became a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in 1994 and served on their Committee for 8 years.
Method of Working
For my still life paintings I always carefully set up the objects, sometimes taking a whole day to make sure I have the information I require to start the painting. Doing this means I have no need to do a preliminary drawing and can paint straight onto the paper, keeping the marks fluid and loose. I use various brushes, sticks, pens, graphite pencils and favourite bits and pieces to create texture in the work. I like to use large tubes of watercolour paint to get maximum colour and even though I know how to mix up the colour orange, I still get a thrill from buying a tube of Cadmium Orange and squeezing it onto a plate. I can only work on one piece at a time which can take me 2-3 weeks to complete. 