Q1. Why are you drawn to your particular subject matter?
I am drawn to the natural world and in particular the smaller things that are all around us. That could be acorns, leaves, feathers, shells, bugs – the details in those magical tiny things in the natural world that we all walk past every day. I am constantly in awe of the colours, patterns and textures that nature has dreamed up! The world of sea life has always seemed particularly exotic to me – drawn to it in wonder as a small boy staring into rock pools on family holidays.
Q2. If you could paint anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I’m very much a studio-based painter. I love the freedom to be able experiment in my own space, using the materials I have to hand. That’s not to say I wouldn’t love to explore the exotic fish markets of other countries like the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
Q3. Has your preferred medium or style changed over the years?
I think both of these naturally evolve over time. I do like to play with different media. I love surprises! I love playing by splashing paint or layering textures. Things happen that you can’t plan for when you mix different paint or materials, that way I keep surprising myself. I think a lot of creativity comes from messing about and playing. The freshness in what you do comes from always changing and adapting.
Q4. Who are your biggest artistic influences?
I’m a keen follower of art history and I’ve always been passionate about visiting galleries. I think my artistic influence comes from all over the place, so it would be difficult to name just a single artist or artistic style. I can be influenced by artwork that on the surface has very little in common with the work I do. Favourite artists from history include Caravaggio, Goya, Otto Dix, Francis Bacon, Marcel Duchamp and so many others. My current favourite contemporary painter is the American George Condo. His work is very graphic and surreal. A British painter, working in a similar field to me, that I admire, is Cornish environmental artist Kurt Jackson.
Q5. What advice would you give to aspiring artists?
Don’t be afraid to try. And fail. Play and experiment. I remember being told at art college to stop being ‘too precious’. If a piece doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter, try again. If you don’t push yourself to experiment you’ll never surprise yourself and grow out of your comfort zone. Also don’t be scared to ask for feedback from others. It’s tempting to be scared of rejection, but sometimes an artist is their own worst judge.
