Camille Pissarro wrote: “Happy are those who see beauty in modest spots where others see nothing.” To me, there is just as much beauty in the symmetry of a greenhouse, the ornate design of a manhole cover, grille or grate, in a crushed leaf or patch of moss as there is in a stunning flower border or a landscape. This unassuming and overlooked relationship between nature and the manmade, I have come to realise, drives not only the way I see the world but lays the foundation of all the art I make.
As the daughter of horticulturists growing up on a nursery, I realise now that my view of the natural world was always to be found within a manmade framework: acres of glasshouses, cold frames, potting trays and neat rows of potted plants provide structure and composition. I mainly use watercolour and mixed media to explore this sense of order as it allows me to harness the expressive nature of both watercolour and drawing to add vibrancy to each scene.
However, within this order can be found elements of chaos: ferns growing out of a drain, a bramble emerging from a pipe while fallen leaves drift across a manhole cover. Again, these manmade elements form an almost decorative structure where nature finds a way to survive and thrive. I use oils to capture the intricate details of both, from the worn patterns and lettering to the tiny weeds and scattered petals so each painting creates a visual story that explores our relationship with nature.
Camille Pissarro wrote: “Happy are those who see beauty in modest spots where others see nothing.” To me, there is just as much beauty in the symmetry of a greenhouse, the ornate design of a manhole cover, grille or grate, in a crushed leaf or patch of moss as there is in a stunning flower border or a landscape. This unassuming and overlooked relationship between nature and the manmade, I have come to realise, drives not only the way I see the world but lays the foundation of all the art I make.
As the daughter of horticulturists growing up on a nursery, I realise now that my view of the natural world was always to be found within a manmade framework: acres of glasshouses, cold frames, potting trays and neat rows of potted plants provide structure and composition. I mainly use watercolour and mixed media to explore this sense of order as it allows me to harness the expressive nature of both watercolour and drawing to add vibrancy to each scene.
However, within this order can be found elements of chaos: ferns growing out of a drain, a bramble emerging from a pipe while fallen leaves drift across a manhole cover. Again, these manmade elements form an almost decorative structure where nature finds a way to survive and thrive. I use oils to capture the intricate details of both, from the worn patterns and lettering to the tiny weeds and scattered petals so each painting creates a visual story that explores our relationship with nature.
1994-95
PGCE Art and Design, Goldsmiths College, University of London
1991-94
BA Hons Fine Art, Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, Oxford University
1990-91
Foundation, Epping Forest College,
Essex
1994-95
PGCE Art and Design, Goldsmiths College, University of London
1991-94
BA Hons Fine Art, Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, Oxford University
1990-91
Foundation, Epping Forest College,
Essex