Marilyn Monroe Original Mixed Media on Canvas Collage

I am a contemporary artist living and working in the UK. I create mixed media and collage pieces, inspired by pop and urban art themes, and sell original pieces, limited edition prints, and offer artwork commissions. I have made art my life’s work. I enjoy the challenge of exploring new and inventive techniques, to create pieces that are balanced and simple, but technically complicated. As I tend to get bored rather quickly, I’m always experimenting; trying out lots of different materials that I have not used before, in ways that are less common. Consequently, although I like to choose subjects that fascinate me such as: beautiful people, butterflies and birds, I find more pleasure in focusing on developing specific techniques and trying out new forms of media. My favourite medium is spray paints. They are truly versatile and I adore the smooth and uniform finish that they can create. However, what I love most about spray paints is the challenge in using them. Unlike the control one has over a traditional paint-brush, you rarely have the same level of control when it comes to using a spray-can. Pointing the nozzle over a delicate piece that I have been working on for days or weeks is a terrifying, but truly thrilling moment for me. Especially as I like perfection; if I make a mistake, I will have to go back to the beginning and start again from scratch. My work begins with a vague image in my mind. I spend weeks or months considering the possibilities of developing it. I then start sketching my basic ideas and begin to plan the stages for its creation. As soon as I have a clear idea of how the finished artwork should look, I will begin the process. The hard part is that things rarely go as planned, especially if I am working with unpredictable materials. Sometimes it takes several attempts to achieve the finish I desire. I have had pieces that took over eighteen months to complete, but normally the process takes around four to eight weeks, depending on the complexity of the design.