From Cult Pop Art To Alice in Wonderland
I studied fine art at Duncan of Jordanstone School of Art in Dundee, gaining a BA (Hons) and eventually a Master of Fine Art Degree in 2006. ‘This four year period counts as some of the best years of my life, I simply loved being surrounded by so much creativity and new ideas.’
My Final MFA Degree show proved a huge success and I picked up five galleries from my degree show, which started me off as a professional full time artist, working with gallery's across the UK.
I consider myself to be very blessed to spend my days painting in my little studio and sending my paintings all over the country and overseas. My oil painting’s are held in many private collections both nationally & internationally, but they can also be found in a number of public museums and galleries including, St Andrews Museum & the Stirling Smith Museum in Scotland.
I began my passion for art through my love of old Children's picture books. As a child she was captivated by the illustrations of Arthur Rackham, John Tenniel and Kate Greenaway. Later on I fell in love with the Pre-Raphaelites, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Ford Madox Brown and Elizabett Siddal.
Norman Rockwell is a more recent favourite, with his amazing eye for detail and characterful figures and faces. Being so fascinated with the wider art world inspired me to undertake a BA in Fine Art commencing in 2001 followed by an MA again in Fine Art which I completed in 2005.
‘Like many artists, I have long been influenced & inspired by fairy tales, cartoons, comic books, cult films & children's books.’ This amalgamation of popular culture has resulted in the wide range & eclectic mix of paintings I create. From cult fiction Pulp Fiction, to Tank Girl and Batman, Harley Quinn and Cat Woman, to Alice in Wonderland, Treasure Island & The Wizard of OZ, there is always a surprise in my works.
Incredible fine detail & eccentric characters are a signature of my paintings. Alice is a main favourite in many pieces taking on the form of a 1950's rockabilly girl, with bright coloured hair, cheeky tattoos and a sassy smile, giving a new a fresh twist to the Alice in Wonderland books.
I can be found most days painting in my summer house studio, which has become a shrine to the great British seaside; my first love. Collected over many years, numerous seaside novelties make their way into a variety of my paintings, from brightly coloured sticks of rock, seashells & children's beach toys. My studio also contains my library of Alice in Wonderland books, of which there are many, and many other childhood books too.
2022 has started with a bang, with my annual solo show with The Acorn Gallery booked in for 15th to 22nd October and also commission's and other mixed gallery shows booked.
I’d love it if you take a look at my work, do let the gallery know if you would like anything special. Diane and John are great at arranging commissions and I have done some very special pieces through The Acorn.