Artist's statement

I see the face as a landscape of a person's life and I set out to explore and convey this in my work.  Many of my paintings are large as I like to get up close to the face and find out what it is telling me - the emotions the face expresses and the strengths and vulnerabilities of the person behind it.

My work is intuitive and physical, with textured layers that create a personal communication. I am fascinated with how the face reflects and exudes colour, varies in tone and texture and is a synthesis of colours, tones, lines, marks, layers, folds and abstract shapes.  From a distance my paintings appear representational but close up the viewer can explore the application of texture and paint that build the painting.

This group of paintings is titled "Different Identities."  I am interested in what makes us as an individual.  Each of us have our own qualities that make us unique. These qualitiies may be race, gender, ethnicity, age, disability and more. 

Each painting is intended to be a celebration of people in my community.  They are a visual expression of my own life experience; a diverse group with commonalities, differences and a range of identities.