Artist Statement
I have always enjoyed painting; I work with oil paints because I enjoy the freedom and flow of the paint. In my paintings I explore the emotions that we all experience. I try to capture a moment in time, exploring themes of memory, social history, nature and beauty. I like to create some ambiguity in my work by fading images in and out of the painted surface, I also work with glazes to build up an image and create an atmosphere in my paintings. I would like the viewer to take time to explore the complexities of my paintings. The careful rendering of my chosen subjects to evoke a feeling and connection with the piece. My paintings include abstract and realistic images, I enjoy getting lost in the work.
I also enjoy portraiture, it provides me with an opportunity to explore the human condition. In 2017 together with professional photographer Lorraine MacLarty we held an exhibition at Gosford Regional Gallery. The exhibition "Who We Are" focused on local people who have greatly contributed to the community. A portrait and a photograph of each person was displayed along with information about them. Lorraine explored the idea of something that the community didn't know about that person. This exhibition was very successful and created a lot of interest throughout the community.
The opportunity to study my chosen subject and create a painting from that intense observation is at the core of my work.
One of my favourite quotes is by Artist Georgia O'Keeffe '' I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for"
Education
Newcastle University
Bachelor of Art Visual Arts 1996
Newcastle Art School, Newcastle College of Advanced Education
Diploma of Art 1980
Exhibitions
2025 " 7 Deadly Sins", Bloomfield Fine Art Gallery, Terrigal
2024 "Retro" Saywell Gallery, Marrickville
2023 Finalist Hunters Hill Art Prize
2019 Finalist Hunters Hill Art Prize
2018 "Who We Are"
Gosford Regional Art Gallery
an exhibition of local identities in
collaboration with photographer Lorraine MacLarty
2018 Finalist Gosford Art Prize
2018 Finalist Hunters Hill Art Prize
2018 "Quizzical" and other musings Wyong Art House
2018 "As in a Mirror" Wyong Art House
2017 Finalist Hunters Hill Art Prize
2017 " Australian Spirit" Art Studios Gallery Gosford
2017 "Personas" Art Studios Gallery Gosford
2016 " Quizzical" Art Studios Gallery Gosford
2016 " Australian Spirit" Art Studios Gallery Gosford
2016 "Water Lines" C Studio Gallery Newcastle
2015 "Water Lines" The Community Gallery Gosford Regional Gallery
2015 "Roses and Reflections" Art Studios Gallery Gosford
2015 "Australian Spirit Exhibition"Gosford
2014 "Where Are You Going?" Art Studios Gallery Gosford
2014 "TransformARTive " Art Studios Gallery Gosford
2013 "Ebb and Flow" Gosford Studio Gallery
2011 "Being Human" John Paynter, Gallery Newcastle
2009 "Music From a Farther Room" Gosford Regional Gallery
Selected for the Gosford Art Prize Exhibition 2017,2016, 2013, 2009, 2000, 1998
1999 Opening of the Gosford Art Centre Caroline Bay
1998 "The Rose" Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery
1997 "Rear View " The Faculty of Art and Design Newcastle University
1996 Maitland Tertiary Art Exhibition Maitland City Art Gallery
1996 Watt Space Art Gallery Newcastle
1994 Creative Focus Gosford
Commissions
Fused Glass "Australian Parrot" The Lord Mayors Collection Edogawa Japan
Private commissions for oil paintings