About my work and process.
I make mainly wall hung pieces, selecting materials from my own handmade and salvaged ceramic pieces, found material and vintage and industrial tiles to create abstracted landscapes, designs inspired by still life painting and stylised tree compositions. I enjoy making my own ceramic pieces for my wall pieces and I also work in collage, assemblage and paint.
I start by working intuitively with disparate elements, eg. bringing vintage metal and ceramic materials that each have a history and show their age, together. I enjoy experimenting with a palette of varying texture and colour combinations. I allow the design to form, initially, with spontaneity and find serendipity informs my choices. Once the basics are blocked in I meticulously work into the surface, creating areas of detail, adjusting levels to be just so, and creating contrasting areas, with patches of flat colour. Sometimes layers of material will form, showing occasional glimpses of what is beneath. I find colour and texture combinations endlessly interesting and I enjoy the element of discovery in the process of putting them together and the ensuing challenge of creating the overall structure and surface.
Composition is the most important ingredient in my landscapes, so memory and imagination play a bigger part than direct observation. The recurring themes of horizontals, verticals and spheres are reminiscent of natural forms, the coast and the sea, with man made settlements and ancient remains. I find the underlying theme in some pieces can be about time passing, and how physical structures remain to tell the story.
I am also very interested in Ecosystem restoration and find that my work is starting to reflect this. I find that Mid-century design attracts me and it has an influence in some pieces.
I make mainly wall hung pieces, selecting materials from my own handmade and salvaged ceramic pieces, found material and vintage and industrial tiles to create abstracted landscapes, designs inspired by still life painting and stylised tree compositions. I enjoy making my own ceramic pieces for my wall pieces and I also work in collage, assemblage and paint.
I start by working intuitively with disparate elements, eg. bringing vintage metal and ceramic materials that each have a history and show their age, together. I enjoy experimenting with a palette of varying texture and colour combinations. I allow the design to form, initially, with spontaneity and find serendipity informs my choices. Once the basics are blocked in I meticulously work into the surface, creating areas of detail, adjusting levels to be just so, and creating contrasting areas, with patches of flat colour. Sometimes layers of material will form, showing occasional glimpses of what is beneath. I find colour and texture combinations endlessly interesting and I enjoy the element of discovery in the process of putting them together and the ensuing challenge of creating the overall structure and surface.
Composition is the most important ingredient in my landscapes, so memory and imagination play a bigger part than direct observation. The recurring themes of horizontals, verticals and spheres are reminiscent of natural forms, the coast and the sea, with man made settlements and ancient remains. I find the underlying theme in some pieces can be about time passing, and how physical structures remain to tell the story.
I am also very interested in Ecosystem restoration and find that my work is starting to reflect this. I find that Mid-century design attracts me and it has an influence in some pieces.
