prelude
I am a British artist, living in North Wales, currently studying a masters in Fine Art at Aberystwyth University, which I began in September 2024. I received a Bachelors in Fine Art Degree with Honours (Magna cum Laude) at the State University of New York, Purchase College when I emigrated to New York and lived there from 2000 – 2020.
Nature and environmental conservation are the central focus of my work as an artist, and it represents who I am. Much of my work is guided by experimentation, process, exterior and interior experiences, and emotional responses. From concept through to the finished piece, my art is created to communicate a deeper understanding about myself and my relationship with the Earth, and all biological organisms that inhabit it. Every piece that I produce becomes a segment of a wider dialogue between different entities, including my audience.
My art is driven mostly by a surge of powerful emotions developed over a lifetime, including personal experiences fused with environmental degradation. I channel these emotional responses into my work with the intention of raising awareness to the detrimental impact on Earth and all its living organisms that people are contributing to in epic proportions. I have a deep connection to our planet, especially the land where I live in North Wales. As I delve further within my process, more of my emotions are felt, and transferred onto a two-dimensional plane.
Using a variety of media, my ideas are expressed through automatic mark making and manipulation of materials, which continue to evolve, especially as I embark on developing a body of work. In particular, I am researching how pollution, including plastic and other non-renewable resources have devastating consequences on plant life. One of my ongoing projects, “The Earth and I”, questions how these pollutants dramatically interferes with the language and communication between plants and other biological organisms. This is involves researching the impact of Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) on these different lifeforms and I am currently looking to collaborate with scientists working in this area. Solving the problem of effectively conveying the outcomes of my research and ideas into a visual platform continues as I develop my project further.
Living and working sustainably with a minimal footprint is very important to me. I sometimes using traditional media such as watercolours and gouache. However, I choose ethical and sustainable options and my cleanup routine is fastidious, which involves no contact with the environment. My art practice is gradually transitioning from using conventional media, such as synthetically made paints, to utilising naturally and synthetically derived elements or objects found outdoors. These often include soil, plants, and littered fragments picked up on my daily walks. I embed, stitch and draw these alternative materials onto a two-dimensional surface. I have designated areas in the garden for growing organic edibles, cut flowers, and plants for making my own pigments and dyes from. My studio is an extension of my outdoor space, where I enjoy raising and nurturing a variety of houseplants for my mental wellbeing.