Current series-'It's Not Me'
These works were created with the intention
of bringing a sense of childlike freshness, spontaneity, and play into my practice, rather than pursuing perfection. Using the surrounding landscape as a starting point, I explore its elements through expressive mark-making, seeking to reveal the energy that exists within them.
The series was inspired by my young daughter and the way she experiences the world. To her, a stick can become a
magic wand and an acorn a precious treasure. Observing her sense of wonder encouraged me to approach painting differently. I allow seemingly random marks to emerge on the canvas and then imagine what they might become, transforming shapes and gestures through a process of play and discovery.
I begin each painting without a fixed
outcome in mind, giving myself permission to make mistakes and follow intuition rather than control. Shapes, movements, and colours emerge freely, often feeling as though they come from somewhere beyond conscious thought. In these moments, it feels as if “it’s not me” directing the work. Whatever happens, happens. When I can access this state, the painting develops naturally and unexpectedly. If it does not, I simply wipe away the paint and begin again.
For me, this process reconnects with a childlike way of seeing and expressing the world.
Children inhabit this state effortlessly, while adults often become preoccupied with planning, controlling, and doing what we think is right rather than what feels right. In the process,
we can lose touch with our capacity for play, imagination, and freedom.
Some of these paintings remain closely
connected to the landscape, using expressive brushwork to evoke the movement and power of natural elements. Others embrace a more playful and imaginative quality. Some may appear relatively realistic at first glance, while others move further into abstraction and invention.
- Through this series, I hope viewers can experience some of the energy, freedom, and wonder that inspired its creation. I invite you to reconnect with that sense of curiosity and imagination, and perhaps take a little of it home with you.