Life Cycle Artwork

I am an artist living and working in London. An important element of my work is self expression. Often the creative urge and the act of making work is a way of channelling thoughts and feelings and turning that energy into creativity and positivity. Formally, I use the figures in my artwork as a structure for the materials. I like the idea that there are some kind of boundaries and discipline for the colour and paint to express itself within. Seeing it this way has helped me develop my own personal visual language. I take inspiration from many artists whose work could be described as ‘childlike’ or ‘naive’. I like the way painter Rose Wylie describes her work as not drawing in an academic way. I am influenced by Outsider and Folk artists. I have an evolving personal symbolism in my work, the figures have come to represent different things and symbolize various parts of myself, they exist as a way of integrating these parts, but also with the intention of tapping into a more collective consciousness (in the Jungian sense) and hopefully having an accessibility and meaning to others. Artwork that I am drawn to and influenced by often seems to bridge the gap between ‘high art’ and ‘low art’, artwork that seems to me to have an inclusivity that encourages everyone to get in touch with and express their own creativity. I am also inspired by illustration, particularly illustrated fairy tales and children's story books. Other things that often come to mind when painting are puppetry, stop-motion animation and album covers.