Growing up as the youngest of eight children in the suburbs of London, I often felt lost in the crowd, searching for a way to express my own unique voice and individuality. Life was busy and chaotic in our modest family home in Hainault, and I sometimes struggled to find my place amidst all the hustle and bustle. It was a constant challenge to stand out and be recognized, when I was just one of many siblings vying for attention.
Then, on my 16th birthday, everything changed. My father, in a rare moment of thoughtfulness and insight, gifted me a set of oil paints, brushes, and a stack of canvas paper. I remember being utterly transfixed by this simple but incredibly meaningful present. Little did he know that this gesture would unlock a whole new world of creativity and self-discovery for me.
I spent countless hours out in our old garage, experimenting with colours, shapes, and textures. Painting quickly became a true sanctuary, a way to find my voice and express all the feelings and thoughts I didn't quite know how to put into words. The elongated, almost spiritual figures in the work of Joan Miró really resonated with me in those early days. There was something so captivating about the ethereal quality of his paintings, like the mesmerizing "Circle Around the Sun" which depicted these graceful women dancing together in a circle. I became completely absorbed in trying to capture that same sense of movement, energy, and transcendent essence on my own canvases.
As I grew older and made my way through my 20s and 30s, I encountered some real personal challenges that threatened to derail my artistic path. Things like social anxiety and struggles with substance abuse weighed heavily on me, making it difficult to stay focused and inspired. But it was actually through discovering the practice of meditation that I found a way to work through those issues. The meditative process helped me manage my anxieties and, eventually, overcome the problematic habits I had developed. It was a true lifeline that allowed me to re-center, refocus, and keep developing as an artist.
My spiritual journey and my artistic one started to become deeply intertwined during this period. The more I delved into meditation and deeper self-reflection, the more my paintings began to mirror that inner exploration and evolution. I found myself drawing profound inspiration from the naïve, honest style of artists like Alfred Wallis and Christopher Wood - their simple but powerfully evocative depictions of fishing villages and the sea resonated with me on a primal level. There was something so pure and authentic about their work that really spoke to me. And it was at a time where I worked and lived near Tenby inside the charming Tenby fishing village working for the council painting park benches and cast iron dustbins, I would often take in the scenery and energy that would then inspire my art journey further. And looking back over my shoulder to that time, I still have quite a large selection on my older Instagram account's of my fishing naïve paintings, as I do my abstract experimental art. It's old work of course, and experiments along the way that's what counts. But I feel it is infused with its own soulfulness and honesty that still resonates and as an overall narrative of my collective works both past and within the present.
Seeking out kindred creative spirits, I ended up joining a group of likeminded artists in St. Ives, Cornwall, where I was able to really hone my craft and refine my unique visual voice. And exhibit on several occasions, It was an incredibly enriching experience, surrounded by others who understood the drive to express oneself through paint and form. Together, we pushed each other to experiment, take risks, and find new ways of seeing the world.
In more recent years, the work of contemporary painters like Andrew Cranston, Peter Doig, and Bridget More has become a huge source of inspiration and fascination for me. There's just something so intriguing and soulful about their art - a quality that goes beyond just technical mastery. I feel like they each somehow infuse their paintings with a bit of their own energetic essence, giving the work a sort of kinetic, almost mystical life that I find absolutely captivating. It's that transcendent, ineffable quality that I strive to capture in my own artistic practice.
A few years back, I had this really fortuitous encounter that ended up being a pivotal moment in my creative journey. It happened at Hyde Park Corner, where I would often go to display and sell my paintings on Sundays. I was chatting with a fellow artist and lecturer who saw something special in my work and encouraged me to pursue formal art education, despite being in my 50s at the time. It was a big leap of faith, but I felt a renewed sense of purpose and possibility as I dove into a foundation course in London and then secured a scholarship to study at Norwich University of the Arts.
That formal training was invaluable - it deepened my understanding of art history and theory, and gave me the technical skills and confidence to really explore the full breadth of my creative vision. The exposure to different mediums, concepts, and approaches challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and experiment in new ways. It was a transformative experience that lit a fire within me, reigniting my passion and sense of artistic purpose.
Upon graduating in 2016, my partner and I decided to embark on a new adventure, relocating to Thailand where I became completely immersed in the rich cultural tapestry of the country. It was there, in the vibrant city of Bangkok, that I had my first major solo exhibition, showcasing a series of spiritual assemblages crafted from found objects.
Working with these recycled materials in a more physical, sculptural way was a revelation for me. Unlike the solitary, introspective act of painting, assembling these assemblages required a different kind of energy and application. I loved the process of shaping, layering, and fixing the various elements together, building something that could capture those same ethereal, interconnected themes I was so drawn to in my two-dimensional work. Each assemblage felt like a little totem or talisman, a physical manifestation of my own inner journey of self-discovery and spiritual exploration.
As I continued to evolve as an artist, I found myself venturing into even newer territories, experimenting with video, mixed media, and even some iPad digital techniques I've homed in on. It was all part of an ongoing quest to find fresh ways to express my artistic vision and connect with my audience on a deeper level. I remained steadfastly committed to that path of creative and spiritual exploration, constantly challenging myself and allowing my work to be shaped by emerging themes and concepts that inspired me.
Throughout this incredible journey, I've had the honour of exhibiting my art in galleries and art fairs, both locally and internationally. It's been so humbling to receive positive feedback and see my work resonate with others who are moved by the depth of feeling and transcendent quality that I pour into each piece. At the end of the day, that's what it's all about for me - using my art as a vehicle for self-discovery, growth, and shared human experience.
My paintings, assemblages, and other works are windows into my inner world, reflections of my ongoing quest to understand myself and the world around me more fully. There's an element of the ineffable, the mystical, that I strive to capture - that sublime, interconnected energy that I've come to revere through my spiritual practices. It's a never-ending journey of exploration and discovery, to be sure, but one that fills me with an incredible sense of purpose and fulfilment.
As I continue to evolve as an artist, I remain steadfastly committed to that path of creative and spiritual inquiry. I hope that by sharing my story, I can inspire others to embrace their own unique artistic voices and to find solace, meaning, and purpose in the act of creation. The journey isn't always easy, but the rewards of self-discovery and the chance to connect with others on a deeper level make it all so worthwhile. This is my art, my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
