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Part woman, part goat, she possesses characteristics of the Siren. Upon looking at her beautiful face and her apparent gentle nature she will cast a spell on young woodsmen so that they instantly fall in love with her. She will then seduce him and lure him to his death in order to protect the forests.
Outside Andvær lies an island, the haunt of wild birds, which few men can land upon, be the sea never so quiet; the sea swell girds it round about with sucking whirlpools and dashing breakers. An eery Norwegian fairy story inspired this painting, a story of enchantment, deceit and unrequited love.
I love to read fairy tales and examine their dark interpretations; the wolf is often represented as menacing and predatory. Here the wolf has actually been charmed by a strong and confident young woman, and she’s teaching him to waltz. I had an inexplicable fear of wolves as a child and painting Wolf Waltz has been therapeutic.
Lola was the most inquisitive of the three rabbits who came to live with us. One moonlit night she scampered off to find adventures beyond our garden walls.. We later found out he was a male rabbit called Shadow. I like to think he’s still exploring. Acrylic on Canvas SOLD Giclee prints available
Owls have long been considered symbols of intelligence, wisdom and cognition. An owl is also often seen as a sign of spiritual enlightenment because they are revered for their knowledge and ability to see clearly in the darkness. I wanted to characterise an owl as guardian and protector, symbolically representing myself keeping watch over my child.
One gloomy evening, a magnificent, red fox raced past me as I waded through the sodden marshes of the coastal path. Hearing me squelching, he suddenly turned around and our eyes briefly met; it was a magical moment for me. Then off he scurried because Mrs Fox was waiting for him in the tall sedge grass.
‘Fox and Hummingbird’ was a private commission to celebrate the unexpected but joyful union of two long-lost sisters from either side of the Atlantic, previously unbeknown to each other. Foxes and hummingbirds are the sisters’ individual favourite creatures, but the setting is inspired by walks at sunset through woodlands close to me.
Here comes the Snow Angel, riding in on the cold easterly wind. She brings with her a sprinkling of silver flakes to the white woodland where the girl and her foxy companion dance together to celebrate the beginning of the winter solstice. This piece has been inspired by the anticipation felt as the seasons change and thoughts turn to the festive season. I’ve created the Snow Angel character with elements of both Fairy Godmother and Baba Yaga. The shells are included because they remind me of coastal woodlands near where I live, where the land meets the sea.
The Velvet Trail follows the edge of the tideline on the Sefton Coast through undulating dunes, amongst sand couch and marram grass. It’s a place of peace and isolation. This painting is inspired by meandering walks amongst the otherworldliness, lost in contemplation and imagined far-off lands. The Golden Goose has escaped the sleeping giant and flown down from the castle at the top of the enchanted beanstalk and joined me on my wanderings.
The scene was inspired by the topiary in the grounds of Levens Hall in Cumbria. The story is of a mismatched couple on their wedding day who have reluctantly come to terms with their mistake just in time. The bride is hopeful for a prospective suitor, the groom accepting of a solitary future.
I painted Blackbird in response to the guilt and sadness I felt in springtime when my cat would stalk and terrorise the blackbird and her young. A spiritual creature, symbolic of mystery and intuition, the blackbird to me represents resilience and its beautiful voice floods our garden throughout the summer months.
The Birdcage is an exploration of love, possession and power. It’s a response to the popular themes in traditional tales where a girl is locked up and overpowered by a male character, then saved by another male character. In contrast to the customary relationship between fairy-tale characters, my lead protagonist has confined her beloved in a birdcage, but the imprisonment represents a mistaken attempt at capturing his heart and conquering his love to make him belong to her.
