Artist Statement

My paintings often incorporate elements of the human figure and of the landscape. They are created from sharply defined line drawings from direct observation; but also with reference to photographs I take of the world around me. Although figurative, they are abstracted. Shadows, particularly of the figure, are significant in my work. The bold and bright use of colour is important in suggesting space in terms of both location and perspective. Scale is manipulated to cause confusion. There is a blurring of ‘figure’ and ‘field’ by a play with colour to create optical illusion. I make deliberate contrasts in technique and subject matter to question reality and alter perceptions. They are deceptively simple paintings that are open to interpretation, sometimes involving visual puns. The double meanings in the titles echo the visual ambiguity. I hope to make the viewer question what they see in my paintings and in the world around them.