2020

During the course of 2019 and 2020 many works focussed around ideas and experiences of loss, both the personal loss of my father and the profound changes caused by the pandemic. Touch has been a central tenet of my practice for many years and images of hands, flowers and embracing came to dominate.  Work was instinctive and directly played out in the painting process.

Heartsease . 2020 . Oil on canvas . 153 x 244 cm

Still Life. Dad. 2020 Acrylic and charcoal on cardboard 114 x 147 cm

Still Life. Dad I. 2020. Acrylic on cardboard 110 x 180 cm

Wally Dog . 2020 . Acrylic on cardboard . approx 120 x 80 cm

Smoke . 2020 . Acrylic and charcoal on cardboard . 135 x 92 cm

Misters Angel . 2020 . Acrylic, oil and charcoal on cardboard . 158 x 229 cm

Mr Angel, Believer . 2020 . Oil on canvas . 71 x 55.5 cm

Tricks . 2020 . Oil and chalk on canvas . 114 x 120 cm

Amo Amas Amat . 2020 . Oil on canvas . 114 x 119 cm

Cleave . 2020 . Acrylic and oil on canvas . 40 x 30 cm

Sunflower, After Mondrian . 2020 . Oil on paper . 30.5 x 22.7 cm -

PAIRINGS 
Pairing paintings was an interesting way of extending the conversations between the different treatment of themes in my work. Pairings were made after painting individual works, as if putting together found objects. It was a very satisfying throwback to working with objects something I had done for many years before turning to painting.

Watchers . 2020 . Oil on canvas boards . 31 x 49.5 cm

Glamour . 2020 . Oil on canvas boards . 31 x 49.5 cm

Iris . 2020 . Oil on canvas boards . 31 x 49.5 cm

Pink Moon . Oil on canvas board . 31 x 49.5 cm. Exhibited at 2020 ING Discerning Eye exhibition

When I begin a painting I will have a general idea of a subject or an idea I've been thinking about but I won't necessarily have a visual reference or preparatory drawing. Images and forms develop as the painting progresses through the process of building and destroying or obscuring and rebuilding. The canvas gets turned and shifted about and put aside so that I can see what's forming from a different angle and the work begins to take on its own pictorial growing out of the working over and over until I can see what is going on and until I feel they reach a point where I can stop. 

Hoof And Claw . 2020 . Oil on canvas . 120 x 90 cm

The Prize Winning Aubergine . 2020 . Oil on canvas . 90 x 120 cm

Ghost Sausage . 2020 . Oil on canvas . 90 x 120 cm

Other . 2020 . Oil on canvas . 92 x 98 cm

Flowers 
I am a seasonal painter, my palette reflects the different seasons. My current studio is at the bottom of my garden and my art practice is directly informed by my local environment.

Night Garden . 2020 . Oil on linen . 60.5 cm x 45.5 cm

Scent . 2020 . Oil on canvas . 120 x 90

Flowerings. 2020 . Acrylic on linen . 60.5 x 45.5 cm

Pots And Plants . 2020 . Acrylic on linen . 60.5 x 45.5 cm

Flowers With Kings Blue Light . 2020 . Oil on linen . 50 x 40 cm

Sylvan . Oil on canvas board . 30.5 x 25.4 cm

Far To Go Flowers . 2020 . Oil on canvas board . 30.5 x 25.4 cm

Flowers and Blue Pot . 2020 . Oil on canvas board . 30.5 x 25.4 cm

I have a cat, his name is Pablo, he likes to come in the studio. He likes to hook the flowers out of vases to get to the water. 

Grey Cat . 2020 . Oil on canvas . 60.5 x 45.5 cm

Pink Cat . 2020 . Oil on canvas . 60.5 x 45.5 cm

Intermission was named as it provided an intermission from painting things and emotions.  It was informed by a wooden object I made called Witness I and it can be seen on the Objects page. 

Intermission . 2020 . Oil on canvas . 96.5 x 76 cm