Artist Statement

Growing up in a small country town gave me a deep appreciation of the surrounding countryside. Open fields and dairy farms, rocky pastures chequered with stone fences, and beautiful red gums dotted through rolling hills have always been an influence in my work.

From an early age, the allure of nature and art has been a constant in my life. Painting in all its forms has been a satisfying way to represent the richness of experience in capturing nature, colour and light. Despite years interrupted by family and career commitments, creating is so basic to me that picking up a brush transports me into another zone entirely. Time stops, and only the present moment matters. This applied mindfulness is easy for me to relax into.

The environment is always inspirational wherever I go. It can be majestic, beautiful and motivational. It is also fragile, and can touch you emotionally. Painting the environment is my way of documenting those moments in time when a location has moved me.

Practice

My inspiration comes from experience with location and place. I sketch, photograph and do colour studies before beginning a painting. I usually work without too much planning but never from memory, because the moment is what matters.

I love sketching and painting on site, especially when travelling, when time slows and my mind is clear. I am not a regular plein air painter, but I enjoy working on location because it is inspiring to portray the wind, colours, sun, shapes of landforms and the movement of the sky across all seasons.

Colour and light are central to my work, shaping both the mood and structure of each painting.

Whether using oils or acrylics, I combine layered and direct painting techniques. The layered approach builds up many thin, transparent glazes to create depth, luminosity and fine detail. The direct approach simplifies colour and form, putting paint down more immediately. The layered technique adds richness and complexity, while direct painting brings boldness and freshness to the colour. Together they support my preference for vibrant, expressive work.