"the beetles" Painting

I live near Edinburgh with my wife and son. We enjoy walks, road trips, food, music and fire.

When I was growing up, I loved Escher, Dali, Bruegel and Bosch. These influences stayed with me as I began to appreciate the power and symbolism of ethnic art - from Celtic art to Inuit sculpture; from African masks to Aboriginal design.

In my mind, Ethnic art represents the spiritual connection we have in many ways lost. I wanted my art to somehow rediscover this connection, not only to the earth, but to ourselves. We find our primal instincts in ancient art. Survival, animal, food, fire, water, sun, moon, hunter, hunted, tribe, belonging, home, ceremony, fight, fear, love. These instincts remain, despite the all the technology and distractions that surround us. We are still connected first and foremost, to each other and the earth.

Nature, light and imagination twist around in my head and I conjure up surreal forms and mask-like paintings which can be ambiguous; sometimes with meaning, sometimes without. Often spontaneous and often with an intended message.

Humanity, respect and self-awareness are very important to me. I dream that socialism and empowerment can defeat the destructive disorder that suffocates the planet. The rich minority must never be allowed to buy power and have free reign to control the earth.

Creativity in all its forms must inspire a new wave of activism and awareness of what we are doing to our planet.

One clear message is needed to unite us towards realisation, towards peaceful change and our reconnection to this miraculous planet.

The massive majority of the people on Earth all want the same thing: peace and happiness. Art, writing and music are powerful tools to make this happen and I am proud to be one small part.