I became interested in art at an early age. It was the thing I was
known to be good at while at school; it made it okay to be shy, quiet
and not so confident about sport or my scholastic abilities. Drawing and
painting were and still are a source of comfort and satisfaction.
Several years ago, I fell ill suddenly with encephalitis (an
inflammation in the brain) ending up in intensive care unable to breathe
for myself and with little coordination. Since then, I have relearned
how to breathe, talk, eat, write etc and rejoined work and family life.
Throughout all this, my painting has provided rehabilitation and an
outlet for my frustrations. I become lost in a world of colour and
texture and let the frustration and compromises of everyday life melt
away.
I usually work in oils. I love the smell of
linseed oil, the way the paint feels as it smears and the vibrant
effects on the colours that glazing can produce. I always use high
quality paints mainly Michael Harding or Old Holland and usually
assemble and prime the canvases myself to ensure that the pictures will
be a good long term investment for people. I also protect the pictures
with a layer of retouching varnish to keep the colours vivid and rich.
