Permissive Path # 3 Painting

I was born in North East Lincolnshire, UK in 1969. Following an art and design foundation I undertook a fine art degree course at Coventry University, graduating in 1991. It was during the degree course that I turned away from my main interest of photography, discovering a true passion for oil painting. As a consequence of visits to various European cities, I developed an interest in the ambiance characterised by strong architectural features and quality of light. Creatively interpreting this became the focus of my work. If I had to describe my art I would say... neither an abstract or traditional artist, my work is perhaps best described as 'non-figurative'. I focus on mood and ambiance rather than literal subject matter. The majority of my oil paintings are created on canvas using a multitude of colour washes, poured paint and splashes, overlain with areas of thick impasto. Many works incorporate other materials, including sand, wax and fabric. A common compositional technique includes the juxtaposition of large, loose areas with tighter, realistic features and embellishment. Paintings vary in size up to 10 x 7 feet, with most being around A1 in size. I work in a variety of other mediums too, including charcoal, chalks, collage and printmaking. Photography remains an important medium, both creatively and as a means of collecting visual reference material. In terms of influential artists, I enjoy studying Anselm Keifer and Antoni Tapies for their textural qualities, and Mark Rothko for his use of colour. On a wider level I appreciate a great many artists, with styles ranging from Turner and Giorgio de Chirico to Jim Dine.