Artist statement

I have worked outdoors as a gardener for over thirty years, and I have observed nature in all its seasons and weathers. With this life experience I have built up a considerable working knowledge of plants and animals and countryside matters and have an affinity with a variety of natural materials. I have a very practical hands on intuitive approach to my work and my approach to art is a concoction of all the above plus folklore, traditional craft skills and some survival skills taught during my time in the parachute regiment.

The process of creating my work is to spend time immersed in an environment and to react intuitively to very acute observations of the flora and fauna of a site i.e. any pollution issues, any perceived imbalance in the ecology of the area, by sketching and taking photos I begin to describe a series of ideas in a sketch book. Then by a process of elimination based on practicalities and any other restraints such as time and money, I decide as to which areas interest me the most and are feasible, after undertaken some research, usually historical and on how other artists may have approached the subject. I can then make an informed decisions, and begin the process of realising my observations in fully worked up pieces using are range of media which I think would best suit the work which may take any form.

Hoping they will portray my viewers my ideas on environmental impact and the effect of human activities on our wild places.