I trained as a printed textile designer, so much of my work is of a decorative nature and it usually includes surface pattern or repeated elements. I enjoy playing with juxtapositions of colour, and often this will be the initial focus of a piece of work before I consider any other details. I also like to explore shape, texture and line, and I strive to create interesting surfaces in two-dimensional form. Areas of random texture or interesting and considered qualities of line and mark I hope give added depth to the pieces.

All my work begins life as hand-drawn, painted or printed elements which then develop into collages, paintings or digitally manipulated pieces. My favourite materials are dip pen and ink, gouache and acrylic paint, and paper and I never tire of the endless possibilities these afford. Initially I tend to work intuitively with shape and form, building areas of pattern or creating decorative shapes which can then be combined and arranged to create a full image.

My subject matter tends to be drawn from the natural world; so stylised flowers, trees, leaves and clouds are recurring themes in my pieces. These tend to be simplified, modernised and reduced to the most basic elements, which are then re-enhanced with colour, pattern and texture. I also like to work with abstract shapes and forms, but again these are often organic in nature.

I’ve always had a keen interest in mid-century art and design, and this has greatly influenced my aesthetic. Imagery from the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies including textiles, children’s book illustration and home interiors have all greatly contributed to my visual language, and in many ways my work re-interprets these with additional modern influences and a personal perspective.