Much of my work is taking me to work in various historical houses, in capacity of artist in residence or invited artist.
One invitation leading to another, hence the connection to heritage buildings in and around Richmond, including Turner’s House and Strawberry Hill House, Normansfield Theatre and Pope’s Grotto, a hotel in Tuscany and many more.
TURNERS HOUSE, 2015
In 2015/16 I was funded by Arts Council England to be Artist in Residence at Turner’s House, Twickenham, recording my experience of the building as the house was preparing for a major renovation; culminating with a major solo show at nearby Stables Gallery, Orleans House.
“I found it fascinating to watch and be involved in the changes of direction and expression, reflecting the deepening of your spiritual relationship with the house and its designer and owner”
Memory Shelves - Oil on canvas, 2014 - 100 x 100cm
Colour is Therefore Light - Oil on linen, 2015 - 80 x 80cm
Sunshine on a Rainy Day - Oil on linen. 2016 - 270 x 145cm
The First Signs of Spring - Oil on canvas, 2016 - 270 x 145cm
NORMANSFIELD THEATRE, 2016
In 2016 I was invited to make work in response to the recently restored Victorian theatre at Normansfield, once part of the lunatic asylum of the same name on that site.
Waiting for the Performance to Begin - Oil on linen - 80 x 120cm
Waiting for the Performance to Begin - Charcoal on paper, 2016 - 80 x 120cm
Play of Light - Oil on linen, 2016 - 80 x 120cm
Recital - Charcoal on paper, 2016 - 80 x 120cm
STRAWBERRY HILL HOUSE, 2017
Strawberry Hill House was designed and lived in by Horace Walpole (1717 - 1797) “a man of letters” who wrote the first Gothic novel here. A space full of narrative, a story from ‘gloomth’ to light, a place to show off all his treasures. A magical source of inspiration to any artist, as it was to me.
Borderline - Oil on canvas, 2017 - 30 x 30cm
Through the Yellow Window - Oil and mixed media on canvas, 2017 - 30 x 30cm
Gothic Daydream
Blue Bed Chamber
TUSCANY, 2017
In 2017 I was artist in residence for one month at Borgo Santo Pietro, a 5 star hotel in Tuscany, where I created a new body of work for an exhibition on my return. Here is a small selection of the work I produced there.
Breakfast in Tuscany - Charcoal on paper, 2017 - 50 x 70cm
Under a Tuscan Sun - Oil on canvas, 2017 - 88 x 92cm
Abundance - Oil on canvas
Abundance Study - Oil on paper - 50 x 70cm
WEST HORSLEY PLACE, 2018
In 2018 I was invited to visit West Horsley Place in Surrey soon after it had been left to Bamber Gascoigne. Set up as a Trust, it is in the process of being restored and renovated as an arts and education venue. I was lucky enough to have access in the early days, recording the timeless quality of a house left frozen in time, and look forward to returning there both as artist and tutor in the near future.
West Horsley Place, Time Travel - Charcoal on paper - 60 x 80cm
The White Room - Charcoal on paper, 2018 - 60 x 60cm
Teapots - Watercolour on paper, 2018 - 12 x 12cm
Garden Room, WIP - Charcoal on paper - Detail of a large scroll drawing - 1.2 x 10m
Geraldine's Bedroom - Charcoal on paper - 60 x 80cm
Teapot - Work in situ
The Garden Room, In situ, WIP - Charcoal on paper - Detail of scroll - 1.2 x 10m
External view of West Horsely Place
GLYNDEBOURNE, 2019
In preparation for the Glyndebourne Festival exhibition in 2020, I had access to the grounds in order to make new work, inspired by the exhibition title “Force of Nature”. It was February and cold; the snowdrops valiantly showing their heads, trues forces of nature. Sadly, the festival was not able to run in 2020, but the exhibition went ahead online, the gallery version postponed until 2021.
Winter Shadows - Charcoal on paper, 2020 - 42 x 60 cm
Snowdrops at Glyndebourne - Charcoal on paper, 2020 - 28 x 35cm
Winter Reflections - Charcoal on paper, 2020 - 28 x 30 cm
Glyndebourne in February - Charcoal on Paper - 42 x 50cm