Artist Statement 2025
My evolving painting practice has been inspired by plants and flowers since 2003. My work is often informed by particular research e.g. wild flowers of the Machair, Mary Delany at The British Museum, 15th century Herbals at The Linnaean Society and Kew Gardens etc. My paintings involve increasingly stylized plant portrayals, geometry found in nature and an increasingly expressive use of paint and colour. My most recent works are inspired by particular plants and their context in Ardnamurchan and Fife. Portraying them is driven by a desire to explore and express a love and connection to nature, the elemental and the universal which at this time of crisis feels more important than ever.
Collections
Dumfries and Galloway Art Collection
Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS – 100 Flowers Project
Royal Bank of Scotland
Applecross Property Development
Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust
Private collections in UK, Europe and USA.
Awards and Grants
2021 – VACMA Award for Research and Development of new work, including research at Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh, Kew Gardens and The Linnean Society
2015 – The Meffan Gallery and Museum Solo Exhibition Award
2014 – ‘Next Steps’ Award for research and development of new work and mentoring, from FCAC
2013 – Artist Opportunity Grant from FCAC for a research trip to the Outer Hebrides
2013 – Business Gateway, Create in Fife Grant – funding towards a new website
2010 – Artist Award, Fife Council
2009 – Railway Heritage Trust, Fife Business Gateway – grants towards studio/renovations project at Ladybank Station
2008 – Artist Award, Fife Council
2005 – Hope Scott Trust Award to visit specialist plant nursery in Germany
Solo Exhibitions
2022 ‘Recipe for a Miracle’, Solo exhibition at Gracefield Art Centre, Scotland
2019 ‘Poesis’, Solo Exhibition at Resipole Studios, Strontian, 17th May – 28th June
2018 ‘The Blessing of the Rain’, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
2017 ‘Floresce’ – Solo Exhibition, The Meffan Gallery, Angus
Selected Group Exhibitions
Winter 2024/25 Morningside Gallery, Edinburgh
Summer 2024 - RSA Open Exhibition, Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow and Resipole Gallery, Argyll
Jan 2024 The Russell Gallery, London and Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow
Nov 2023 Winter Exhibitions at Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow and The Russell Gallery, London
Dec 2022 Society of Scottish Artists Annual Exhibition, RSA, Edinburgh
2021 Royal Scottish Watercolour Society Annual Exhibition, RSA, Edinburgh
2021 ‘Revelation’, Theoartistry exhibition St. Andrews
2021 ‘Flower Show’, Heriot Gallery, Edinburgh
2020 ‘Bring in the Light’, Tatha Gallery, Newport, Scotland
2019 ‘Time Spent Amongst Trees’, The Meffan Gallery and Museum, Forfar.
2019 ‘Palimpsest’, Society of Scottish Artists, An Lantair Gallery, Outer Hebrides
2019 The Scottish Exhibition, group exhibition, Panter and Hall Gallery, London
2018 OPEN VAS & SSA Together, National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh
2018 Fabriano en Aquarello, Fabriano, Italy
2018 AAF, Panter and Hall, London
2017 The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, 175th Anniversary Exhibition
2017 Scottish Exhibition, Fabriano-inaquerello, Italy
2017 ‘Roots and Wings’, with Ade Adessina & Freya Payne, Tatha Gallery, Dundee
2016 ‘Flora Depicta’, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
2016 ‘Exquisite Corpse’, Society of Scottish Artists, St. Andrews Museum, Fife
2015 SSA Annual Exhibition, RSA, Edinburgh
Collaborations
Current – creative collaboration with poet/artist Rebecca Sharp
2021 – ‘Theoartistry’, Department of Divinity, St Andrews University, project bringing together visual artists and researchers to investigate the cognitive, psychological and theological implications of text-inclusive artworks.
Education
BA Joint Hons Art & Art History, 2:1, Goldsmiths College, London 1992