Artist Statement

My work explores portraiture through expressive drawing and bold colour. I am fascinated by the human face and the challenge of capturing not only likeness, but also the personality, energy and presence of the sitter.

Working primarily with soft pastels and pencil, I build portraits through layers of colour and mark-making. Colour sits at the heart of my practice. Sometimes it overwhelms me, almost blinding or confusing my judgement, yet I embrace that challenge. Each drawing becomes a search for harmony between colour, form and likeness.

My process often begins with loose exploratory sketches before gradually developing into a finished portrait. Whenever possible I prefer to work from live sittings, as the interaction between artist and sitter allows something deeper and more authentic to emerge.

When I draw, I feel like a conductor, orchestrating colour, line and form in search of harmony. Through this process the portrait slowly reveals itself, bringing forward the character and presence of the subject.

After an eighteen-year break from drawing, I returned to my practice through weekly life drawing sessions inspired by The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Since then I have continued to develop a colour-driven portrait style, creating portraits of frontline workers, public figures, influencers and private clients.

Alongside portraiture, I also explore the animal world, studying movement, expression and character through drawing.