Turbulent Indigo … with a Touch of Madder

This latest series of mostly small works was inspired by my relationship with the landscapes that have shared my sometimes ‘turbulent’ life. In the previous two years, I had travelled through Italy, Spain and the UK, reconnecting with familiar places and reliving the evocative memories and feelings that these locations inspire. From deep sadness in the UK, where I lived for many years and endured the tragic loss of two partners, to the coastline of resilient North Norfolk, which helped sustain me during those sombre days, to the vitality of Italy and Spain, which nourished the soul with food and lifestyle.

However, it was my new love affair with the majestic Capertee Valley, near Rylstone, 135km north-west of Sydney, that is most represented in this latest exhibition. From my rustic studio, I have sought to capture the timeless beauty of the landscape..

“I feel more settled. It’s not about looking back. Its about the past and the future merging together. there’s more hope than sadness.”

Most of the works in this exhibition are smaller (30x30cm). I feel that the act of painting on this size canvas is a much more personal experience, where the work becomes like a treasured object that can be painted while it is held, rather than on an easel. “It is also possible with a small work to take in the whole picture with a single glance and not have to gaze around a canvas. This allows the viewer to enter the painting from the initial viewing. I hope this gives them a jewel-like quality.”