1

I have always been drawn to the romantic works of the pre-Raphaelites.

Their gentle, haunting, beautiful works of art and accurate detail to their subject matter encourages me to paint in a realistic way that I wouldn't have been inspired to have considered before.

"The artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of." - Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519)

My family are Cornish, so I travel to Cornwall often. I have always adored sculpture, and especially Barbara Hepworth's work as well as her influences. I am an enthusiast of Rodin, Brancusi, Gormley, and their tactile, polished, smooth forms.

I found Rachel Ducker's 'Figures' so inspiring at the Fresh Art Fair in Cheltenham, that I had to have a go at something different and more three-dimensional.

Rachel Ducker's 'Small Figure'

I have recently been experimenting with some wire sculpture structures like Ducker, but instead making some simple tree shapes:

I often think that I would love to paint more 'abstractly', however I've found that it is much more difficult than it looks. Laura Dunmow's dramatic, illuminating landscapes are all so clever and full of essence. I find it easier to paint in the style of Realism - maybe others would disagree, and find my way of working more difficult!

At the moment, my favourite contemporary abstracts artists are:

• Andrew Allanson

• Benoit Havard

• Sarah Adams

• Sara Sherwood

• Hannah Woodman

• Louise Kelly

When I first learned about art history, 'chiaroscuro' (contrasted light and shadow put together in paintings) fascinated me, and especially how several of the dark paintings of the old masters translated it. I love 'dappled light' and paint it so much; contrasting lights and shades almost so that we walk and peak through a tunnel going out in to the sunshine again. This inspired me with sharp contrasts, which I often use in a lot of my own work:

"The Kissing Gate" (2020)