Aperture 1 Painting

I work in a contemporary way using figurative, impressionistic, expressionist and conceptual styles to create my unique artworks. I work in the Fine Art mediums of painting and sculpture, as well as mixed media. My inspiration comes from the sea and coastal places which helps shape and inform my work. Living by the coast in South Wales, my daily walks take me along coastal foot paths, followed by people for centuries, and onto some wonderful beaches. I record these journeys in my sketchbooks, working en plein air and making a few photographs of things that catch my eye to use later in my studio. The beach is a changing place through the seasons and its always different. My painting "Langland Bay" depicts one of my favourite beaches that I visit regularly so it is a place close to my heart. I often utilize found objects on the beach too such as reclaimed board from the coast to paint on that bear the patina scars of the sea's ebb and flow or I collect some white sea washed sticks to use for macrame sea hangings. The seashore is a spiritual place for me where I can breathe deeply and gather thoughts as well as feel my most creative. A sense of freedom to develop and unravel ideas is my experience in this environment and to see and enjoy the ever changing views and hues that these wonderful seacapes offer. As a multi-disciplined artist, I use a variety of mediums and media to make paintings and sculptural artworks. I like to paint in watercolour, synthetic polymer (acrylic) or oil on paper, canvas or board. I also create sculptures using natural or found objects. My work reflects the light and ambience found in coastal places that I visit as well as referencing the UK coastline. Through exploring the beautiful Welsh coastline, the sea has become my central theme and inspiration for my paintings with its eternal ebb and flow as a constant fascination for me. Travel and visiting different places also inspires me and acts as a starting point for a lot of my work. I travel when I can, especially to surf coasts in Australia, where I document my experiences in my sketchbooks which are then used as reference for work in my studio at home. See "Sunnymead", "Jan Juc sunset", "Twelve Apostles" "Aperture 3" "Boardwalk View", "Wave Watching at Squeaky Beach", my paintings of Australian places. I studied Fine Art under British Artists Maggi Hambling, David Hepher, Roger Ackling and Annabel Nicolson, all of which whose work I admire greatly.