Objective

My current art practice is inspired by local surroundings in the Norfolk Broads and East Anglia beaches, dykes and vast rural landscapes. Travels further afield to Cornwall, France and my birthplace Perth, Australia, also feature regularly in my work.

Living in the Norfolk Broads village of Upton, I enjoy easy access to the expansive scenery and coastlines that inspire my paintings. I attempt to create rich, bold abstracts that reflect the spirit of a place.

I have a passion for producing large-scale works, but find these the most challenging! My background was in designing corporate Interiors where a millimeter on a working drawing amounted to a metre of office space in reality. I feel this spatial awareness is interwoven in my paintings in the form of balance and composition. I also often combine differing perspectives in a single canvas, for example elevations and plan views.

Many artists inspire me, particularly Cy Twombly for his texture and large scale paintings, Fred Williams for his courageous use of colour in his outback paintings, Wilhelmina Barnes-Graham for surprising colour compositions and Mimmo Paladino for painting/sculptural interplay and symbolism.

My current emphasis is exploring the use of paint colour to create bold contrasts while scratchy mark making and vertical elements are created with palette knives.

Education

September 2007 MA with Commendation, fine and applied arts Practice, University of Hertfordshire
September 2003 BA Illustration (Hons) University of Westminster
December 1984 Diploma of Interior design, Perth, Australia (3 years)

Awards /Invitations

Selected for Norfolk Now at Cley 2016
Selected for 100SquareFeet Halesworth Gallery 50th Anniversary
Selected for Earsham Street Gallery, Bungay February/March 2014
Shortlisted for second round Royal Institute of Oil painters Mall Galleries 2014
Exhibited for Student award Association of Illustrators Images 28 Mall Galleries 2004

Memberships

Tate
A-N and AIR (Artists Newsletter)
N-CAS (Norfolk Contemporary art Society)
Caper art group Norfolk

Exhibitions

2017
Oct 23-Nov 11 Belfry Arts, Overstrand ‘Light fantastic’ exhibition
Oct 21-28 Art House Cafe Cromer ‘Small is beautiful’ exhibition
Sept 2-20 Halesworth Gallery Open exhibition Suffolk
August 5-27 Black Barn Gallery, Cockley Cley Norfolk
June 9-28 Trio at Halesworth Gallery showing my seascapes
April 25 – 9 May Abstract painting Solo, Annex, Riverside art & Glass Gallery, Wroxham
April 5-9 Spring art show in the Atrium, Norwich Forum
March 21-April 1 Cobalt Inspirations Anteros Front Room, Norwich
2016
Oct 14-25 Institute of East Anglian Artists Open show, Holt
Oct 17-29 Paintout – Norwich Cathedral, Hostry
Oct 6 Holkham Hall Wells Maltings charity event
Sept 24-Oct 12 Halesworth Gallery Autumn show
Sept 22-26 A brush with the Broads Plein air event, Ludham
Sept 4 Mannington Hall Art Auction Loveart project for EACH charity
August 20-September 7 Halesworth Gallery 100 sq ft
July 7-August 7 Cley 2016 Norfolk Now
June 23-26 Salon des Refuses Hackney London
May 28-June 12 Norfolk Open Studios 2016
May 23-26 NOS16 Broadland taster Gt Yarmouth Library
May 17-29 Wymondham Spring fair
May 13-16 St Lawrence art ctr South Walsham NOS16 Broadland taster
April 19-30 ‘Cobalt’ Anteros Norwich
March 25-26 Forum Norwich Easter group show
2015
December 6 Alby Arts and Crafts Xmas Fair, near Aylsham
6-29 November Marketplace Undercroft, Norwich
October 23- 1 Nov Garden House Gallery, Cromer, Norfolk
July -Hare and Moon Gallery, Alby Crafts Norfolk
June 21 Ludham open gardens, Plein air demonstration, Norfolk
May 23-June 7 Norfolk Open studios, home gallery, Upton Norfolk
May 8-11 UNA Gallery, Swan Lane, Norwich
April 28-10 May Wymondham art centre, Spring show Wymondham, Norfolk
April 23-25 St Lawrence art centre Open studio group show South Walsham
April 13-19 Norwich Forum open studio taster, Norwich
January 2015 The Swan House Inn, Beccles
2014
December 2014 Shortlisted for ROI, Mall Galleries London
December 2014 Upstairs Gallery Beccles, Suffolk
November 2014 Yallops Gallery Norwich Solo of recent abstracts, Norfolk
October/November 2014 COAST Atrium North Walsham, Norfolk
September 2014 Pennoyer Centre, Norfolk
August/September 2014 Anteros Summer show, Norwich, Norfolk
May/June 2014 Open studios at home, Upton, Norfolk
May 2014 Norwich Forum Preview show and demonstration day, Norfolk
May 2014 Atrium Preview show North Walsham, Norfolk
April/May 2014 Wymondham Art Centre Spring Show, Norfolk
April 2014 Forum Atrium NNOS14 Taster, Norwich, Norfolk
April – October 2014 Ramblers Gifts, Thurne, Norfolk
March 2014 Candidarts, Islington, London
Feb/March 2014 Earsham Street Gallery, Bungay, Norfolk
2013
December 2013 Upton Christmas fair, Norfolk
November 2013 Moulton St Mary café, Norfolk
October 2013 Ramblers gift shop, Thurne, Norfolk
September 2013 Earsham Street Gallery, Bungay, Norfolk
August 2013 Cornucopia group show, South Walsham, Norfolk
July/August 2013 Trattoria Sapori N16, London
July 2013 Fakenham Biennial, Norfolk
May/June 2013 Norfolk Open studios, Norfolk
April 2013 Forum Open preview, Norwich, Norfolk
April 2013 Atrium Open preview, North Walsham, Norfolk
March 2013 Wymondham Spring fair, Norfolk

Interests

Interior design and renovating my 1730 Flint cottage, studying French and am a bit of a Tennis fanatic.