Statement
My paintings and prints depict surreal, other-worldly and playful imagery with a strong narrative art style running through out. I enjoy creating my own characters and surroundings often with scant regard to the logic and order of the real world. For the viewer looking at my work I would hope that it feels like there is a story unfolding in front of them. My aim is not to dictate that story precisely but merely to hint at it and to leave the viewer to construct the rest from their imagination.
While the imagery in my work frequently derives from my own experiences and the people I know, more established narratives with a folk, mythic or sacred origin have also had an important influence on my practice.
Recently, I have taken much inspiration from the elaborate, vibrant and detailed imagery found in so many medieval illuminated manuscripts. These beautifully decorated books have been providing me with the germ of an idea from which to go forward – be it an object, a colour, the way the figures interact with each other or the position of a hand.
From there I let my imagination take over, with the aim to create a brand new image never before seen. For me, having this playful control over my imagined scenes and the often unexpected outcome that occurs is very much part of the excitement of being an artist.
Achievements and Awards-
Funded artist in residence at Grampus Heritage Traditional Skills residency, Cyprus, November, 2020- Alexander Graham Munro Travel Award, Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour, 2018 (£3000 travel prize)- Ninewells Hospital Radiology Art Prize, Dundee, 2017- Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour invited artist for the ‘Student Award’, 2017- John Kinross Scholarship, Royal Scottish Academy, 2017. Award based in Florence, Italy, October – December, 2017.- Watermark Award, presented by the Royal Scottish Education-
2013-2017: Fine Art BA(Hons), Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee. Graduated with a First Class Honours.
Collections
Royal Scottish Academy
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art Collection, (University of Dundee)- Ninewells Hospital Art Collection, Dundee Society of Painters in Watercolour, 2015
Upcoming/Current Exhibitions
Tatha Gallery, ‘10 x 10 Show’, Newport-On-Tay, 22nd November 24 - 22 December - Kilmorack Gallery, ‘Winter Exibition’, Beauly, Opening 23rd November 24- Castlegate House Gallery, ‘A Winter Selection’, Cum bria, December 24
Exhibition History
Selection of new paintings, Castlegate House Gallery (May 2024) Scottish Show, Panter and Hall Gallery, London (February 2024) ‘On a Small Scale’, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh, December 2023) Selection of New Paintings, Castlegate House Gallery, Cumbria, (July 2023) Scottish Show, Panter and Hall Gallery, London (February 2023) Summer Selection, Castlegate House Gallery, Cumbria (2022) Spring Selection, Castlegate House Gallery, Cumbria (2022) Scottish Show, Panter and Hall Gallery, London (2022) On a Small Scale, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh (2021) Castlegate House Gallery – A Summer Selection, August, Cumbria, 2021 ‘CHROMA’, a two person show with Alice Campbell and Lorna Sinclair, July 2021- ‘A Tale of Tolbooth’, Commissioned Artist for a group show in June 2021- Castlegate House Gallery – ‘Covid Contemporary Group Show’, Cumbria, November 2020- Castlegate House Gallery – Spring Exhibition, Cumbria, 2020- Castlegate House Gallery – A Winter Selection, Cumbria, 2019/2020- Fair for Saatchi with the Castlegate House Gallery, The Saatchi, 2019 Open Eye Gallery – ‘On a Small Scale’, Edinburgh, 2018- - - - - - RSA John Kinross Scholarship group show