A Suffolk-born self-taught artist , I work primarily with the rich natural pigments of soft pastel. I am a passionate advocate of this often under-rated medium. I love the tactile nature of the pastels, using multiple layers and blending techniques to give a dynamic three-dimensional quality to my paintings.
Taking inspiration from the natural world, my work focuses on wildlife and landscapes and some portraiture. After ten years as a farmer and fifteen years teaching secondary English, I now work from my Hollesley garden studio as a full-time artist. My studio windows overlook heathland and fields where I see wild fallow deer every day and, on tiptoes, can even see the sea! I love the way my home county provides both a heritage coastline and a rich and varied countryside with all the wildlife that contains.
Particularly drawn to wildlife and animal portraits, I focus on bringing character and life to each of my artworks. I have recently been exploring how pastel can convey the life and movement of water with my seascapes.
My passion and talent with soft pastel has led to me becoming an Associate Artist for Unison Colour and I now use my teaching experience to offer tuition, weekly classes (at Hollesley and Woodbridge), demonstrations and workshops (monthly at Martlesham Heath) to introduce others to this versatile medium. I participate in the annual Suffolk Open Studios and have exhibited both locally and more widely in the UK. I will be exhibiting at The Craft House Gallery in the Thoroughfare, Woodbridge during the second week of June so I will be there during the weekend of 14/15 June 2025.
