Artist Statement

The ability to capture a feeling or express and emotion in paint has intrigued me from my early years. It seemed to me that the ability to capture something of interest in a way that is different and fulfilling was a gift worth pursuing.

To some people this ability to produce art work comes easily, while to others it is difficult to produce works that are satisfying. But producing good art is just like everything else in life, it requires learned skills, time and effort, and most of all, the willingness to not give up when it does not work. And it now seems to me that it is this pursuit to achieve a result which is better than the previous work which drives an artist on. It is the satisfaction of producing and art work which captures what it sets out to do, which is pleasing and genuinely admired by those who view it, and so you wish to continue. Sometimes you succeed, and sometimes not, but when that work is successful, it is a reward.

It would be easy to describe my work as landscape painting in the traditional technique, however I believe recent works show a style where attention to colour and luminosity as allowed works to show an impressionism beyond the traditional treatment of a scene.

My painting materials are oil on canvas, permanently glue fixed to a backing board. I also prefer to surround may paintings with a white mount board as a window to look through ( a result of my earlier watercolour painting days), with a subtle frame to complete the whole work. I prefer to build up layers of oil paint, allowing the layers to show through, which provides a luminous work of greater depth. I believe this impressionistic approach enhances colour and elevates interest in the work. My paintings set out to witness views which are sometimes well known, but which conjure an emotion to the viewer of having been there, or perhaps thinking of having been there. They are beyond a statement of record, but show an emotional attachment, a drama, and a sense pf place, achieved through depth of colour.