I am trained in contemporary fine art. I later trained in art psychotherapy.
I use art for emotional regulation and to explore my internal world. I like to create narratives and metaphors within my imagery that touch on emotion and personal experiences. When I start an image I do not usually have a plan. I work intuitively with the colours, shapes, the feel of the brush strokes, the textures, my reaction to it and what it is I am feeling that day. I usually make an art piece in one go as I often get absorbed in the process. I will have a sense of when the image is finished and will work on details until it gets to that point. Sometimes I return to unfinished paintings but this can be years later and it takes on a whole different feel.
Some images are emotively darker in context than others. Some images contain cats (usually my cat Leroy!) which gives the image a more playful feel if I feel the need add a more light-hearted perspective to the piece. Places or references in the images are often are representations of significant elements from my life.
I am inspired by abstract expressionist artists as well as faux naïf and outsider art. I also really love Japanese ukiyo-e art from the Edo period as I love the details in the woodblock prints and the stories that are told through a single image.