A contemporary artist-illustrator living and working in London, my work reflects the natural world, particularly its occurrence within urban spaces.
I am particularly intrigued by what we delineate as the beautiful, worthy forms of nature against the ubiquitous urbanity of wildlife. The parts that thrive in the absence of tending, the uncultivated wildernesses, from the street to the domestic sphere. My response is drawings that are spontaneous, intense and joyful whilst avoiding the sentimentality often associated with wildlife.
I draw on the genre of abstract expressionism and contemporary illustration to create paintings that combine a light fragility with bold, brutal marks and decisively drawn lines. Mundane greys and magnolia house paint contrast with vibrant inks and fluorescent spray paints. I stand to paint on the floor and walls, enabling greater energy and movement; becoming like a dance, darting back and forth to the paper.
Original paintings are held in private collections across the world. Previous illustration clients include the V&A Museum, Waterstones, The Felix Project and Orion Books. My book cover for André Alexis’ Fifteen Dogs, published by Profile Books, was nominated for the V&A Illustration Awards.
I teach drawing and illustration short courses at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, create educational content for Access Art and hold workshops in my studio. In both my teaching and my own practice, I focus on the process of creating; exploring ways to paint intuitively, allowing mistakes to become an integral part of a piece.
Film by pointydog.co.uk