'I feel there is something unexplored about a woman that only a woman can explore.' Georgia O'Keefe

My interest in oil painting was ignited after I graduated with a Master of Fine Art (MFA) Post-Graduate Degree from Dundee University in 2007 and I began teaching myself the process and handling of the medium in subsequent years. Whilst at University, I relished the long days spent in producing direct observational drawings of the human form or from plaster casts and the skeleton. Short poses or those based on movement were of secondary interest to me as the longer poses offered more of a challenge in terms of accuracy and precision. The total absorption that these exercises drew me into resulted in a technical isolation and separateness of self from all that went on around me. It is this inner solace that I seek to reflect in my paintings.
My paintings focus on archetypal figurative representations of the female form. I work predominantly with oils on linen, using solely brushwork to achieve the outcomes I am seeking. Mood and atmosphere is carefully constructed through the deliberate juxtaposition of the central figure against an ambiguous background. In turn, the image is further defined by the use of intense artificial lighting and a restricted colour palette. This projects the image outwards towards the viewer, establishing its presence within the central frame of the canvas. The play of light and shadows conveys an effect that is both welcoming and remote. It distorts the image and produces an abstract quality arising from the gradual fading of parts of the image from sight. In brief, it intensifies an ephemeral moment in time which the viewer can interpret in their own way whilst still being guided by the ambience and composition of the image as a whole.
The works possess a contemporary tone which is achieved through the integration of a soft-focus, chiaroscuro and dry brush techniques combined with an illustrative edge. Although my work is grounded in realism, it is far too stylised to be considered entirely so. I would refer to it as Aesthetic Realism, influenced by not only the classical fine artists of the Renaissance but also contemporary illustrators and digital photographers.
Many of my paintings represent a dream world or moments of quiet reflection, contemplation or introspection, where one can delve into the subconscious and attempt to understand one's own place within the greater scheme of things. I seek to represent and capture a fleeting moment in time, a transient image of contemplation that is a combination of dreams and reality, a tasteful balance between sensuality and femininity suggesting emotions and feelings frozen in time. They are illusions drawn from an unreal reality based on the commonly purveyed depiction of women in an idealised form.
I have always used my work in an attempt to understand my place within the world, as a woman of mixed cultural heritage. Questions of identity, memory, race and gender are integral elements to understanding the rationale behind my visual output. The element of reflection, catharsis and renewal are ever present aspects.