I was born in Perth and studied art through high school, going onto obtain a diploma of art before travelling and living overseas in my 20’s. For the last 25 years I have lived in Margaret River whilst raising a family. I have a home studio that provides a creative environment for not only producing art works but also a place to share with other artists to complete custom art framing.
I have always enjoyed painting plein air, the results are always more faceted, expansive, spontaneous than studio work. You’re dealing with the elements, heat, sand, the uncomfortable rock you’re sitting on, the whole peripheral vision and cramming it all into a piece that you hope captures the scene before you.
The colours changing, shadows, wildlife, pets, people the urgency before it changes.
This experience is heightened through travel and across the world I have been documenting images both by photography and drawing on sketchpads.
From the cold concrete walls at the base of the London bridge, to a hill above a village near a river mouth in Spain, a basecamp in the Okavango Delta, to a melting sunset celebration at Key west, Florida. Braving blizzards in Connecticut, New York to the warm water and waves in Grajagan, Java. You immerse into a foreign culture and soak up the smells, emotions, language, cars, architecture, food, drink, animals, art and the way a place makes you feel and think.
Recently I have had several inspiring experiences that reignited my passion to create art. I had the opportunity to work alongside one of the great artists Leon Pericles on his huge ‘Spirits Within’ piece and even installed its many facets in the Parmelia Hotel foyer. Late last year my wife and I pored over a Brett Whiteley exhibition in Perth, with the whole venue to ourselves! I visited the National Gallery in Sydney which was bursting with an inspiring art student exhibit. Then experienced the infamous MONA gallery in Hobart (mind-blowing!). And also, the Launceston National Gallery where a Michael McWilliams brilliant exhibit was in display.
Like my influences, my styles are varied through medium, subject and composition. However, I am always after a feel of place or situation portrayed. A portrait of the emotion I felt there. Putting as much of myself into every picture.
I will continue to be true to the “inner child” artist inside of me and create works that speak to me and feel like I must produce because I exist!