* All images used with permission. Please do not distribute without first contacting the artist.
My paintings centre around figurative representations of the human form. I work predominantly with oils on canvas/linen. I seek to represent and capture a fleeting moment in time, a transient image of contemplation that is a combination of dreams and reality.
This is achieved by a careful construction of mood and atmosphere which is created by the deliberate juxtaposition of the central figure against an ambiguous background, defined by intense artificial lighting and a restricted colour palette. This projects the image outwards towards the viewer, establishing its presence within the central frame of the canvas. The play of light and shadows conveys an effect that is both welcoming and remote, it distorts the image and produces an abstract quality arising from the gradual fading of parts of the image from sight.
It intensifies an ephemeral moment which is interpreted by the viewer in their own personal way, yet being guided by the ambience and composition of the image as a whole.
The works possess a contemporary tone which is achieved through the integration of a soft-focus, chiaroscuro and dry brush techniques combined with an illustrative edge.
