I try to make my paintings both expressive and uplifting. They are essentially optimistic, something I try to maintain even when painting bare branches in Winter. I spend a lot of time walking and I am particularly inspired by the tenacious wildflowers and big skies I see in the countryside around my home near the Devil's Punchbowl in Hindhead, Surrey. I am also strongly influenced by memories of colours and gardens from my childhood, and the naive shapes that I often use are representative of this. I studied Fashion at Central St Martin's School of Art, and this influence can be seen in my passion for colour and texture. My paintings are also inspired by embroidery, both in the colours I choose and in my use of collage, stencilling and expressive mark making to add texture and depth.