"The natural environment is at the core of my creative practice, informed by weather, climate and the changing seasons. This is reinforced by an emotional connection to the landscape and a strong sense of place and identity as an Islander. My work is atmospheric and aims to capture a sense of expressive energy, creating a visual reinterpretation of the landscape through vivid colour, abstraction, texture and form. I am interested in how these elements work together to reflect a sensory awareness of the environment that surrounds us.
Process is integral to my practice - both in mark making and in the physical nature of materials. I work with a variety of surfaces, mediums and techniques, primarily paint and print on canvas and paper. These include watercolour, acrylic, natural earth pigments, etching and mono-printing. There is a close relationship between my paintings and my printmaking, connected by bold compositions and an awareness of tone. I enjoy the unpredictability that comes through both printmaking and watercolour.
In January, I applied to the Shetland Arts Creative Shetland Commissioning Fund and was delighted to be one of the successful applicants. The funding allowed me to take part in a multi-artform residency between An Lanntair and Sail Britain: ‘Muir is Tìr - Land and Sea’, based on the Gaelic sea-lore book by George Macleod. The expedition explored the seaways and more remote islands around Lewis and the Shiant Isles. It offered shared experience, collaboration, and valuable time for creative reflection, observation and contemplation.
I took sketchbooks throughout the residency and have now developed this research into a new body of work. The experience gave me a contrasting perspective - being on the sea looking back to the land, rather than standing on land looking out - and this shift has helped shape and develop my creative practice.
My intention is to evoke a sense of connection with the surrounding landscape, inviting viewers to reflect on their own relationship with the natural world."
This project was funded by the Creative Shetland Commissioning Fund.
