My work combines close observation with imagination.
I am drawn to a range of subjects and frequently produce a series of pictures in order to explore a particular theme through a variety of techniques and compositions. Drawing is vital and underpins all my work, whether in the form of preparatory sketches and experiments or as completed pieces in their own right.
Architectural forms, still life and landscapes are all sources of inspiration. Through my own emotional response to the subject, the aim is to enhance the viewer's perception of images that might otherwise be taken for granted.
Whether highly detailed or deceptively simple, the focus is on formal elements such as perspective and composition. A subtle change of viewpoint or arrangement of shapes can significantly affect the mood of a work.
Colour and texture come into play too and my preferred medium of watercolour enables images to emerge from many transparent layers of paint. I do also use oils, however, and enjoy the never-ending possibilities of mixed-media techniques. Early works were principally reliefs, and elements of this "sculptural" interest remain in my preference for working on toned, sculpted or textured paper. This is particularly the case with drawings. Surfaces may well be constructed from three-dimensional layers of canvas or board, or papers may be collaged together before work begins. I interpret the term "drawing" in itself as widely as possible.