Delighted to be working with AURA Fine Art. This online gallery is based in Nottingham. ‘At AURA Fine Art we seek to inspire, curate and deliver the best the contemporary art scene has to offer’.
Delighted to be working with AURA Fine Art. This online gallery is based in Nottingham. ‘At AURA Fine Art we seek to inspire, curate and deliver the best the contemporary art scene has to offer’.
Delighted to have one of my paintings selected for the Sir John Hurt Art Prize.
‘Line View I’
20 x 25cm
A new approach for me exploring the horizon using acrylic paint, dress pattern and torn papers to distress the surface.
Delighted to hold my second solo show at Salthouse Church on the glorious North Norfolk coast. Opens on the 14th August – 06th September. Opening times: 10.00am – 5.30pm daily. Sunday: 11.00am till 5.30pm. Free car park and entry. All welcome. Social distancing measures will be in place.
Delighted to have been invited to answer five questions by Frances Martin the secretary of the Norwich 20 Group of artists. I’ve been a member for several years and look forward to exhibiting with them once again.
2. How do you motivate yourself, or find inspiration?
It’s been hard, as my inspiration comes from sketching the North Norfolk coast and with COVID-19 I can’t visit all the beaches I love as some are still closed. Also with so many exhibitions and events being cancelled one feels like saying ‘What’s the point of making art or creating anything?’ There’s a podcast I can recommend called ‘Art Juice’ by two artists called Alice Sheridan and Louise Fletcher on episode 69 they discuss this almost guilty feeling about creating any art. Artists are usually sensitive to the world around them and the journey can feel uphill and dry at times then there’s a time of awakening, spring arrives with fresh colours to explore, finding the beauty in nature never ends.
3. Have you found anything has changed recently with your practice?
Yes, I’m making smaller affordable work and selling them through the Artist
Support Pledge on Instagram. The pledge was set up by artist Matthew
Burrows. Matthew says ‘Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many artists have
found themselves without work, teaching, technical support, gallery work,
exhibitions and sales have disappeared. In an attempt to help alleviate some
of this I instigated the #artistsupportpledge.’ The concept is a simple one. You
post images of your work to sell for no more than £200 each (not including
shipping.) Anyone can then buy the work. Every time you reach £1000 of
sales you pledge to buy another artist/s work for up to £200’. This initiative
has been such a financial support to lots of artists and makers.
4. Your work is very much rooted in place, within our county of Norfolk. Could
you say a bit about your connection to the landscape?
I grew up here and feel rooted in North Norfolk, to know a place one needs to
explore it. The coast holds many special memories. I love walking and
sketching at Morston and Stiffkey and taking students out to sketch and paint
at Burnham Overy Staithe. I love the salty scent of the sea air, the muddy
creeks and the skies. My work is mainly about exploring the thin layers between heaven and earth. It’s a spiritual journey, one of art and faith and a
consistent moving forward which is exciting.
5. Who has been the biggest influence on your work?
I couldn’t name just one as it’s an eclectic mix of many influences.
Artists such as Peter Lanyon, Kurt Jackson, Sonia Delaunay, Turner, Barbara
Rae and several artists in the Norwich 20 Group are to name a few. Sparks
come from seeing how other artist’s work, seeing their struggles. As we can’t
meet as a group, other influences come from watching artists paint and
discuss their concepts on YouTube. Another way I’ve felt inspired during the
lockdown, is by flexing my creative muscles through reading art books and
enjoying the televised painting and drawing shows and virtual exhibitions. I
really enjoyed visiting the Bonnard at the Tate last year, it was so colourful
and vibrant.
Thank you Frances for inviting me to take part in this interview.
Thanks to my wonderful daughter for bringing this good cause to my attention.
I felt I wanted to help raise awareness so I’ve happily donated this painting to help support and raise money for @jamesplaceuk. James’ Place is a charity in Liverpool which helps to support men who are at risk, and may be suffering from anxiety and suicidal thoughts. I’m thrilled to hear that ‘Day Light’ 46x46cm was sold within two weeks of me posting it to them!
If you’d like to help support by donating an artwork please get in touch with me or James’ Place.
To celebrate five years of happiness in my studio I’m having a ‘giveaway’ of one of my paintings. The draw will take place on Monday 4th November 2019 and someone on my mailing list will be picked at random to win! Here’s how to enter – scroll and click on ‘Contact – great ways to keep in touch’ and enter your name and email to get my occasional newsletter. Good luck!
Now for something completely different! My paining ‘Rocky Orange’ 45x45cm has been selected for the Sir John Hurt Art prize. The exhibition of shortlisted works will be on display in the Auden Theater Foyer from Saturday 20th – Sunday 27th July. Time 11am -5pm. The Auden Theater Foyer, Cromer Road, Holt, NR25 6EA.
Looking forward to opening my studio for one weekend only as part of the Holt festival. Open Friday 26th Saturday 27 and Sunday 28th July. Time 11am – 5pm
All welcome – please message me for directions
Delighted that my painting ‘Boldness Within’ has been selected for the first stage of the Visual Art Open 2019 competition.
Looking forward to giving an art demonstration for the Wymondham Art Society on Wednesday 3rd April at the Roman Catholic Church Hall, Norwich Rd, Wymondham, Norfolk, NR18 0QE at 7.15pm. The hall is a separate building next to the R.C. church with ample parking. During the demonstration I’ll explain my process, how I explore mixed media and the materials I enjoy using when creating my artworks. Small entrance fee. Refreshments. All welcome.