About Me
Heart To Heart
I live in the Forest of Dean in Gloucester and have access to miles of woodland walks minutes from my home – I love to wander amongst the trees and spend time exploring the woodland ponds and lakes This time spent in the woods allows me space to think or sometimes just to “stand and stare”. My photographic artwork is mainly inspired by the natural world I see around me on my walks and travels. Water frequently features in my work as I find the changing patterns and reflections in water so absorbing (it is no surprise that one of my favourite places in the world is Venice, a city built on and surrounded by water). I generally like to work alone and carrying the minimum of equipment (definitely no tripod and usually just my camera and one lens).
I practice an experimental approach to making photographic art, using techniques such as ICM (intentional camera movement) and multiple exposures to convey abstract impressions and emotions or to explore patterns, textures, shapes and colours (I love colour!). These techniques allow me the freedom to experiment without constraints and spark my imagination - I don't worry about whether my final image is in any way based in reality because reality isn't really what interests me. I like the unpredictability of the techniques I use - they often lead me off in directions I was not expecting but I find this very unpredictability fascinating and challenging too.
I also enjoy vintage camera-less processes such as cyanotype and lumen printing and am currently exploring mixed media art techniques using watercolours, acrylic inks and collage (a whole new world!)
I am currently a member of Forest and Rivers Open Studios (farOpen), a collective of local artists who work, sell, exhibit and run art workshops in the Forest of Dean, and along the Wye & Severn Rivers. I am also a member of the Made in Ross artist co-operative in Ross on Wye, Herefordshire. The Made in Ross gallery is currently upstairs at the Corn Exchange, Ross on Wye and is open daily from 10am-4pm (I steward at the gallery regularly and am always happy to chat about my work to visitors if I'm "on duty")
I have been inspired by many photographers and artists over the years, including Fay Godwin (her “Secret Forest of Dean” and "Glassworks" are among my favourite books), Eliot Porter, Freeman Patterson and John Blakemore and more recently by the innovative work of Chris Friel, Paul Kenny, Valda Bailey and Doug Chinnery. I also love the work of Lizzie Shepherd and Krista McCuish who both excel at portraying intimate landscapes and natural abstracts with a delicate touch.
I practice an experimental approach to making photographic art, using techniques such as ICM (intentional camera movement) and multiple exposures to convey abstract impressions and emotions or to explore patterns, textures, shapes and colours (I love colour!). These techniques allow me the freedom to experiment without constraints and spark my imagination - I don't worry about whether my final image is in any way based in reality because reality isn't really what interests me. I like the unpredictability of the techniques I use - they often lead me off in directions I was not expecting but I find this very unpredictability fascinating and challenging too.
I also enjoy vintage camera-less processes such as cyanotype and lumen printing and am currently exploring mixed media art techniques using watercolours, acrylic inks and collage (a whole new world!)
I am currently a member of Forest and Rivers Open Studios (farOpen), a collective of local artists who work, sell, exhibit and run art workshops in the Forest of Dean, and along the Wye & Severn Rivers. I am also a member of the Made in Ross artist co-operative in Ross on Wye, Herefordshire. The Made in Ross gallery is currently upstairs at the Corn Exchange, Ross on Wye and is open daily from 10am-4pm (I steward at the gallery regularly and am always happy to chat about my work to visitors if I'm "on duty")
I have been inspired by many photographers and artists over the years, including Fay Godwin (her “Secret Forest of Dean” and "Glassworks" are among my favourite books), Eliot Porter, Freeman Patterson and John Blakemore and more recently by the innovative work of Chris Friel, Paul Kenny, Valda Bailey and Doug Chinnery. I also love the work of Lizzie Shepherd and Krista McCuish who both excel at portraying intimate landscapes and natural abstracts with a delicate touch.