To quiet corners of the garden, I hope my work captures the essence of the natural world.
Long tailed tits.
I didn't realise I had painted them in a spiral until they were hanging on the gallery wall.
And another time he hadn't noticed me watching him strolling down to the water after stuffing himself with crab.
I am inspired to paint by the wildlife and landscape of Scotland.
My subjects vary from the wilds of the Hebrides
In the field I paint colour studies, take photographs and just quietly observe. I then take time to think about how a composition can be developed that reflects what I have seen, generally this is a slow evolution, although sometimes the whole picture comes in a moment.
Having carefully planned my approach to a new work, I often find that once I have started, the painting will lead me in unexpected directions. I paint with commonly used materials and a traditional palette of oil colours. My work is representational but I'm not trying for photographic detail, I try to evoke the feeling of the moment either seen or imagined. It's all about light transmitted and reflected and never more so than when painting water, a subject I come back to time and time again, as I have always had connections with the sea.I live in the west highland town of Kyle of Lochalsh with wonderful scenery and wildlife awaiting in whichever direction I set off.