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As an artist there have been a range of influences in
my work, some occur sequentially and some simultaneously,
but many by accident or serendipity. Nature and nurture have
fed upon each other to create a form of expression which
is a personal visual language.
Through the exploration of psyche I begin to understand
the need to explore landscape and walking has become an
important part of this exploration. Following this journey
comes the exploration of space on a canvas. I believe that
I am in the tradition of artists such as Ivon Hitchens,
Auerbach and Hodgkins. Unlike Hitchens who creates work
that is non symbolic my works are both allusive and symbolic
but I take from him the interest in spatial sequencing.
When I think about form and space on a canvas it moves
away from representation to abstraction. For me the thing
which is the essence of abstraction is the ghost of representation.
The boat shape in a Heron painting for example, it’s
placement within the canvas abstracts it. To throw away
the topographical mark making, go beyond it and then
with one mark bring it back creates a visual language
which hovers between reality and the imagination. Space
is the stage on which you say something, it is created
by the placement of a form. The contrast between line
and colour is what creates this tension.
It is through the act of walking and travelling that holds
the key to all my work. Through the exploration of a
given landscape I discover a story to tell. At the source
of my work is the story.
Over the past number of years my work practice has taken
me to various countries and places. Whether this be Skagen
on the Danish coast or to India my search for a way of
taking the local history and making a visual response
has always been the same.
The exhibition is open 10am-5pm daily. |
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