Sylvester the Rook Painting

Nature plays an important role in my work. I spend a lot of time outside, actively involved in wildlife schemes. This naturally plays a part in my work, and as an artist I draw what I feel a strong connection with. My style is raw, animated and honest, I like to work fast and spontaneously on paper with all types of medium. I use anything which provides me the solution to the marks I’m trying to make, this can be spray paint, charcoal, pastels, collage, whatever I need to allow the drawing or painting to evolve. Over the past year I’ve been drawing a series of birds; I was attracted to wading birds like storks and herons; I find them more interesting and a little bit sinister. Their vertical stance immediately lends an anthropomorphic quality to their presence. Of course they’re not human, but there are definitely bits of the bird that remind us of ourselves, which makes for uncomfortable viewing and challenges the viewer.