Artist Statement
I create abstract paintings that are both calming and energising. My inspiration lies in the natural world, particularly water: the way it shimmers and shifts, how it interacts with light, rock and forest, constantly changing form and colour as it flows. I follow it by kayak along winding rivers and canals, through woodlands and beneath the surface while diving, captivated by the beauty and movement of these wild and watery places.
My paintings are born from my emotional response to these encounters. Using brushes and palette knives, I build layers of colour, shape and texture, translating the rhythms and atmospheres I experience into expressive abstract work. My process is intuitive and physical. From the way seasons shift through woodland to the ever-changing play of light on water and my interactions with waves while kayak surfing, I paint to evoke the joy of these experiences.
Whether destined for a home or office, each painting brings a sense of flow, energy, warmth and emotional connection to the natural world into everyday environments. My work is joyful, colourful and uplifting.
I'm based in London, but follow the water wherever it leads.
Biography
ARTIST
See above Artist's Statement
When the world retreated indoors during the 2020 pandemic, I returned to my artistic roots. After years behind the camera, I rediscovered my passion for painting, by creating abstract works that capture the essence and movement of water. By 2022, this rekindled love affair with paint had transformed my professional practice.
EXHIBITIONS
Elemental
Art Exhibition
The Chelsea Gallery, King’s Road, London
5th – 17th March 2024
In 2024, I organised and exhibited in Elemental, a group show held at the Chelsea Gallery. The exhibition featured work by four female artists, each expressing our connection to nature through painting in a range of mediums and styles. Each piece explored the impact of elemental forces on the natural world, inviting viewers to reflect on their own relationship with the environment.
.
The River Within – London
Photography exhibition at the Riverside Gallery in Richmond-Upon -Thames
2nd of September to the 16th of November 2019.
London from a kayak
A Solo photography exhibition. By sharing my intimate water-level view from a kayak 'The River Within' offered a glimpse of London as seen from the perspective of a tiny kayak, revealing hidden facets of the city rarely witnessed by everyday Londoners.
.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Between 2000 and 2022, I worked as a freelance photographer specialising in wild places and adventure sports, particularly in aquatic environments. I photographed water sports, caves, disused mines, waterways, and underwater portraiture for a range of editorial and corporate clients. In my later years as a photographer, much of my work was created from the perspective of a kayak, offering a unique, immersive view of the world from water level. My images were published in magazines and newspapers including The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, The Financial Times, BBC Science Focus Magazine, Diver Magazine, various in-flight magazines, and watersports organisations.
THE PANDEMIC
During the pandemic, I no longer had access to my usual photography subjects, but that unexpected pause gave me the time and space to return to drawing, and from there, I began experimenting with abstraction. Although my photographic work had always focused on creating objective, narrative-driven images, I’ve long been drawn to the expressive potential of colour, light, and composition, elements that are just as vital in painting. In many ways, abstract painting became a surprisingly natural extension of my previous work.
ART EDUCATION
I hold a BA (Hons) in Illustration and Graphic Design from Kingston University.
AWARDS
The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) 2005
I was honoured to receive a scholarship from QEST to support the development of my underwater photography.
OTHER RELEVANT ACTIVITIES
Kayaking (1995 – present)
I’m an experienced paddler and have explored rivers, lakes, canals, and coastlines by kayak. I often take underwater camera equipment with me, capturing images of landscapes, waterscapes, and people from this unique perspective. As a former Division One kayak slalom paddler, I’ve spent considerable time on whitewater in both the UK and France. These experiences have allowed me to navigate and document watery spaces in ways few others can.
Diving (since 2004)
Learning to dive opened up another dimension of aquatic exploration for me. I’ve photographed underwater in seas, rivers, canals, and swimming pools including documentary work, and creative underwater portraiture.
Together, these skills have nurtured a deep love for both wild and urban watery places and a strong appreciation of the need for clean, unpolluted water for the health and well-being of both wildlife and humans.
'
ART FAIRS AND ART MARKETS
Parallax Art Fair (London)
Spitalfields Arts Market (London)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
a-n The Artists Information Company
Visual Artists Association (VAA)