My Process

My abstract paintings are based on my feelings from my experiences. I love to hike in remote areas and have explored many stunning landscapes: the sunlit, red cliffs of New Mexico; the wet, rugged Scottish moors; the dry expanse of a savanna in Africa; the quiet, calm of the forests of British Columbia. I am also drawn to the ocean as I find its ever-changing moods fascinating. Using oil paint and cold wax, I create paintings that are my personal expression of the world outside my door. The wind on my face during a powerful ocean storm; being in the stillness and silence that follows a snowstorm; or feeling misty rain while walking in a lichen-covered forest: these are examples of some of the experiences that inspire me when painting.

I want my paintings to invite the viewer in, to explore contrasts in texture, in shapes and in colour. Building up and taking away layers is a critical part of my process to create complexity. I am interested in creating a sense of mystery and a desire to explore, as the natural world to me is always mysterious and beckons exploration. Working with cold wax and oil paint enables the surface to be scraped and scratched so that glimpses of mysterious hidden layers appear. I often contrast a bold saturated colour against calm muted colours to communicate my emotional reaction to an experience. My work is controlled in that I know the experience I want to communicate. However, my method of adding and subtracting layers results in spontaneous compositions which I then respond to in order to achieve my desired end result.