Drawings
In 2020 – 21, I completed a drawing project during the Covid pandemic in which I drew every day for 365 days. I was in lockdown at my home in rural Kent, with my house and garden for inspiration, and each day I walked around looking for something to draw. This enforced isolation gave me the time and focus to observe the comings and goings of birds and insects, the daily small changes in the garden as the seasons unfolded, as well as familiar and apparently insignificant events and objects around the house. Not planning what I was going to draw each day, I responded to whatever came to my notice, and in the process discovered unexpected treasures hidden in the flora and fauna of the garden. Gradually I documented the natural cycle of the whole year, both in my own life and in the garden, and daily drawing soon became a resourcing and supportive practice during the long periods of lockdown.
I drew in a 14cm square hardbacked sketchbook, mostly using pens and Inktense pencils and blocks, and the drawings took from about 30 minutes to more than four hours to complete.
In 2021/22 my Journal of the Plague Year featured in an exhibition of Kent-based artists at the Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate.
For many years I was artist in residence with the Instep Dance Company at Brockhill Performing Arts College. I drew the dancers in rehearsal, attempting to capture the essence of movement in a few seconds.
Life drawing is a regular part of my practice, and here you will see a few acrylic ink drawings using two dip pens, one in each hand.
Collage
While working towards my 2022 exhibition Life Stories at the Horsebridge Arts Centre in Whitstable I began to make collaged pieces using materials I already had in the studio. I recycled proofs of old prints which had collected in the plan chest over the years, tearing them up and using them to make three large circular pieces for the exhibition, so that each of them retains echoes of my earlier work.
Cranes
In the same way I used my old prints as textures for a flock of sixty collaged cranes to fly around the upper walls of the gallery.
Amaryllis
One of the themes of Life Stories was the cyclical pattern of growth and decay of all living things. I followed the life cycle of an Amaryllis plant in a series of drawings, etchings and collages.
Earth Angels
Later in 2022, in response to the daily onslaught of desperate national and international news, I began a new series of work which I call Earth Angels.
Chinese Five Elements
During 2023/ 2024 I worked on a series of five large circular collages of the Chinese Five Elements. Measuring 110 cm in diameter on a plywood base, they represent Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.
Prints
You can find out more about the different print methods I use here .
Jto7 Series (book buying)
Please use the payment button below.
For overseas purchases or bulk orders please contact me.