Tell us a little about what you make?
There are two threads to my colour rich paintings.
- My 'Rural Lives' collection celebrates agricultural heritage, barns, farms, livestock and country life.
- 'The Owd Lasses' are darkly humorous vignettes of the overlooked, older women in society. Not cute grannies who knit, more acid tongued, calling out pretension and poking fun at the folly of youth.
What inspires you and where do you find that inspiration?
I am inspired by social history and agricultural heritage. I am passionate about preserving our landscapes from modern blights ( intensive farming, fracking etc). If my work helps focus on the importance of the small scale farmer and encourages people to support them then in any way, that would be fantastic.
My Owd Lasses are driven by humour, I suffer terribly from gallows’ humour. My octogenarian Mum lives with us and the antics she and her friends get up to often make their way onto canvas along with everyday observations of the human condition. I write a back story to each fictitious character and each piece comes with a caption.
Tell us about your favourite medium.
I love oil paint but paint in acrylics as I suffer from asthma, new mediums enable me to make the paint behave like oils.
What does being a member of the Ceredigion Art and Craft Trail mean to you?
Having recently opened Oriel Haywire gallery in Llandysul I am absolutely thrilled to be included in the CACT especially to be able to show alongside such a diverse range of talented artists.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am working on various farm commissions which I love to do, they have been described as family heirlooms of the future, but I see them more as a social record of farming today.
How do you know when your work is finished?
I appear to have developed an inner alarm shouting ‘step away or put it on the fire!!!! Sometimes I ignore it.
What is the biggest challenge of being an artist/maker?
Getting on an even keel so it isn’t a life of feast or famine.
What advice would you give to new artists or makers at the start of their creative journey?
Be authentic and your passion will shine through.
