I am a mixed media, collage artist and art tutor who lives and works in Worcestershire. Shape, colour and pattern in the outdoor/indoor environment all inspire me and help as starting points for the abstract work that I do. In the studio I work on several pieces at the same time. I mainly use paper, board and more recently canvas, to accentuate the subtle washes in the background of my work which help to give the overall compositions of each piece, greater depth.

Once initial sketches and ideas have been put down the process then becomes intuitive. As shape and colour connect with each other, more layers are built up or scraped away with the acrylic paint. I then like to play with positive and negative space to make the general overall composition work for me. Then I am ready to start adding collage to the process.

Collage plays an important part in my work. I Specifically use collage images from art magazines and photocopies of artwork from my lessons. I like the idea of Text and images being buried, reworked, reformed as part of something new. Sometimes secretive, sometimes playful, I never tire of collage papers assisting in the creative process.

I prefer to work on a larger scale with collage paintings. The process takes a long time as layer upon layer of acrylic paint; collage; prints; work over the top of one another. Some areas will be sanded down then layered over again with new shapes until the composition works for me. Texture, shape and colour are all brought together to produce abstract paintings of interest in close detail as well as the overall considered composition.

Linear mono printing is a way I warm up to start new pieces of work or if I am ‘stuck’ whilst in the throes of a new composition. I work in my sketch book with these prints as well as on Large paper. The process of layering/ collaging/painting creates order from disorder, then order, back to disorder in an ever constant cycle. I love the thrill of new collaged material going over the top of other marks to create something completely new and energetic from my perceived idea of the completed composition. With the way I work you have to be brave, nothing is precious until the final scene unfolds at which point my work becomes like a visual jigsaw, fitting the last precious, collage pieces in to compliment the whole compositon.

For more information about my art work and projects please click below.