Why do I paint? What inspires me to pour countless hours into creating art?
Quite simply, I love it.
Painting takes me to another place where time fades and tea goes cold. I become completely absorbed in the process. Yet sometimes the hardest step is simply to begin.
To start painting, I need to know I can set aside a couple of hours - hopefully more. But even more important is inspiration — the spark that ignites creativity.
For me, inspiration begins with an idea. It might be a subject, the excitement of a new material or process, a new pigment, or a fresh colour palette. Sometimes it’s the idea of combining different subjects to express a thought, a feeling, or to tell a story.
Great art begins in the imagination, but the artistic journey often takes unexpected turns. Many artists talk about their ‘happy accidents’. For me, these surprises are to be embraced - they lead to discoveries I could never have planned. Reflecting on some of my finest work, I see this pattern repeated. I’ve learned to pause at each stage and consider not just where I intend to go, but what has emerged along the way.
These unanticipated events are a great source of inspiration. Every artwork becomes an experiment — an exploration of the known and the unknown. I’ve come to accept that part of the creative process lies beyond my control, and that’s often where the most rewarding outcomes emerge.
I believe we are not only ‘created’ beings, but ‘creative’ beings. Creativity takes many forms such as art, music, cooking, interior design, and so on. Yet for many of us, life can crowd out that side of who we are. For years, that was true for me. But when the opportunity arises, creativity has a way of resurfacing. It’s part of our nature. We can create beauty or chaos; the choice is ours.
I hope my art inspires you. My belief is that what moves me will often resonate with others too. Art is subjective. What excites one person may mean little to another, but that’s all part of its wonder.
Enjoy browsing my gallery and decide for yourself: what might you like to see hanging in your hallway, above your fireplace, or in your workplace?
If you’ve read this far, thank you for indulging me.