1. How did you first become interested in art, and what inspired you to pursue it as a career? Art, for me, was a late discovery. Five years ago, I realised my life had to change dramatically, I had lost several close family members and this grief bought into sharp focus that life is short and precious. I realised that, as a single Mum, my high-powered job was never going to let me be there properly for my daughter while she was growing up, so I resigned with no clear plans and certainly no inkling that art was the answer. A chance encounter with colouring for mindfulness started my journey into creativity, and I started drawing, at first for my daughter, then taking on pet portrait commissions. From this point I knew that art was going to be my second career. I moved out of London to create space mentally and physically, found local gallery representation and have been on a creative journey evolving and discovering my style ever since. Art was a chance happening that has completely transformed my life and which I am so grateful for. 2. Can you walk us through your creative process, from the initial idea to the finished piece? One of the key parts of my creative process is working in multiples. I typically work on 3 to 6 pieces simultaneously, which naturally allows me to form collections from a single idea or theme. These collections will be intrinsically interlinked and hang together as a body of work,yet significantly different in colour, detail and designwhich creates interest and excitement. I deliberately start each collection of works without a set theme in mind, choosing the size, thinking about colour, building the surface, adding layers and developing texture. Through this process, letting my thoughts roam in the company of a blank canvas and being open to possibility, a subject will emerge – a topic that I am drawn to, current affairs, or simply an idea that keeps returning. From this point onwards, the artistic process progresses with this in mind. The collage materials I use are a vital part of my work; I carefully research, select and often create pieces to illustrate my chosen theme. Working iteratively, much will get covered up during the creative process, more will be added in later layers. This approach of addition and subtraction, a back-and-forth journey through the painting, is something that really excites me; I don’t fear change within the artistic process, it often surprises me and gives the viewer tantalising glimpses of the narrative and artistic journey behind the piece. 3. How do you decide what themes and ideas to explore in your artwork? My inspiration is best described as a broad, natural curiosity to explore complex topics, I have a lifelong love of learning and research, so subconsciously my radar is always on and scanning for new ideas. These come from an exciting variety of sources ranging from current affairs to academic research; I’m also curious to learn new techniques and ever conscious of how I can draw the viewer in on a journey through my piece. I generally spend a lot of time at the start of the creative process while I prepare my creative space, and materials to also prepare mentally. I run through my ideas and creative themes, questioning and considering from all angles how I can use them, until I find the one that feels most compete, relevant and exciting at that particular point in time. From that point the collection will progress with the chosen theme in mind, but I continue to research and build on the idea as I paint. This can lead to further twists and changes in interpretation along the way, which can be one of the most daunting, yet exciting parts of the process. 4. What are your favourite mediums to work with, and why? My favourite mediums to work with are acrylic and mixed media. I have a passion for colour mixing and playing with paint, combining it with other mediums to see what happens. With acrylics there is an amazing potential to build depth and interest, create rich layers and textural detail and I love to combine this with the freedom that mixed media gives me to explore, evolve and push the boundaries of my creative practice. Collage is an integral and considered part of my creative process, from researching and selecting pieces to illustrate my chosen theme, to making new collage materials from scratch. Recently I have challenging myself to use new tools and techniques, always thinking about what I can create to add to the interest and beauty of the piece whilst being true to my theme and vision. I love the unpredictability of this process, experimenting and creating something raw from scratch, which is then refined and integrated. Each piece of collage is like mini creative journey and a different glimpse into the artistic process. 5. How has your artistic style developed over time, and where do you see it going in the future? My artistic journey so far has been short, and my style has transformed rapidly! My starting point, less than 5 years ago, was to study and master drawing techniques, which I honed through highly realistic wildlife studies and pet portraits. However, whilst I enjoyed this work, I didn’t find it exciting; I realised that I yearned for something looser and more expressive, so in 2022 I took a bold leap into abstract expressionism to find my own style and I haven’t looked back. I continue grow and develop with each new collection, experimenting and learning new techniques and pushing my creative practice. My latest collection (Seasons) possibly gives a clue as to my current artistic direction and style. I love the deliberate feeling of lightness and space of this collection, juxtaposed with the artistic intention that went into every step of its creation. This collection was a pure joy to create, so you can expect to see more of this type of approach. 6. How do you balance the commercial side of your art business with your creative vision and artistic integrity? Coming from a commercial background (my previous career was in finance&sales) I can actually find working creatively quite a challenge. Embarking on a new collection of work without a clear idea of what it will look like or when I will finish it is the polar opposite to what I have been used to and, for this reason, the studio can be an uncomfortable place at times. To overcome this, I dedicate chunks of time to my studio practice and consistently show up to do the work, trusting in the process and without distraction. I create each collection first and foremost for myself, ideas that excite, uplift and/orintrigue me, practice and processes that bring me joy, new ways of working that push me creatively. Only once the collection is finished do I consider how best to present this to the world, putting my commercial hat on and getting on with the to do list to make sure the collection is professionally presented, gallery ready and collector ready. 7. Can you tell us about a particular piece of artwork that you are particularly proud of, and why? My most recent collection always tends to be the one I am most proud of, and I think this reflects the fact that I am continually developing my practice and pushing my creative style. However, on reflection, for this question I am going to go right back to the start and talk about one of my first abstract pieces “High Rise Living”, which was created in the first half of 2022. “High Rise Living” was motivated by a desire to express the deep human unease and anxiety around the unfolding cost of living crisis, while reflecting on how the modern “high rise” lifestyle impacts on the environment. I’m proud of how exciting this piece is visually, given the acrylic and mixed media techniques I used were all pretty new to me at the time. I’m also thrilled that, while this piece really captured the mood of the moment, it is still relevant and thought provoking today. I’m honoured that this early abstract has been exhibited in London, Banbury and with Influx Gallery which I consider an amazing achievement for one of my first abstract works. I will always consider this piece as “where it all started”. 8. What role do you think art plays in society, and how do you hope your art will impact viewers and the wider world? This is a great question! I would start by saying that art is a fundamental and deep-rooted human necessity; as proved by early cave paintings, we have always needed art. I have recently been reading a fascinating book:Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, which looks at this question from a neurological perspective. Having studied a Psychology Degree many years ago this fascinates me,and advances in science are now proving what we all really knew all along: art improves our physical and mental health, helps us learn and thrive as human beings and can be the bedrock of stronger communities. As the science catches up with our instinctive understanding of the value of art, it’s role in society and the positive correlations with health and wellbeing, I am optimistic that there will be a resurgence in the importance placed upon art in all its forms, from schools upwards. My latest collection, Seasons was inspired by reading this book and reflecting on the benefits of both nature and art for wellbeing. This collection is a mindful, intentional journey which draws on inspiration from nature at every step of the artistic processand aims to combine these two powerful forces. 9. What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out on their own creative journey? From a creative perspective, I would say be disciplined in dedicating time in the studio. Don’t wait for inspiration, show up consistently and authentically and things will happen. Notice what excites and inspires you and follow that path, over and over to find your style. From a more practical, commercial point of view, spend time getting your Artist’s Bio, Statement & CV right from the start. It will need updating as you develop and tweaking depending on what it is being used for, but this is an important part of how you present yourself to the world so make sure you invest the time. Finally, be proactive in looking for opportunities for networking and exposure, the world needs to see your art! 10. What upcoming projects or exhibitions can we look forward to seeing from you in the near future? 2023 was an incredible year for me, with so many new opportunities opening up and recognition of my artwork, which I am incredibly proud of and grateful for. I am genuinely excited about what 2024 holds and I already have plans for Oxfordshire Artweeks and will be opening up my studio for the first time as part of Northants Open Studios. In terms of new collections, I have lots of ideas. I’m intrigued by the concept of using more transparency in my layers and incorporating more printing techniques; I feel the need to work on a larger scale for select collections; I have a box of memories from my childhood, collected by my dad and including lots of things from my late sister. I’m not sure quite how yet, but I think you can expect all of these ideas and themes to play a part in 2024.