My interest in oil painting was first inspired by my love of Victorian house interiors. Without being a too obsessive about period detail, I wanted to embellish my old house with furnishings and decoration that was in keeping with the mood of the property. I found many prints and paintings that were both modern and antique and the fun part was mixing them together. This led me to return to one of my passions in life, portrait painting.

The hallway became my gallery and family members and friends became my subjects. My interest in costumes and theatrical design led me to think of ways to dress the character and with the addition of a few simple props, imply a narrative.

In an age where were overwhelmed with visual imagery, I found that there was some irony in looking at Victorian portraiture and thinking about a time when a painting held a special place.  There appears to be a revival of interest in painting, I'd recommend it as therapy and also a unique way of portraying ourselves.

 

Based in Hastings, East Sussex please contact me for commission portraits.