'I am inspired to paint by the natural world – by the changing seasons, soft shades of green, lilac clouds, lichen on shore rocks and reflections on a wet beach. I have always been fascinated by wild flowers, and bluebells, cow parsley, red campion and wild iris often feature in my work.
There must always be a reason for choosing a particular subject; something that sparks the imagination, something that only an artist's eye would observe.
The challenge is to capture that feeling with marks on a canvas, subtle colour combinations and the texture of paint. I work in oils quickly and instinctively using knives, brushes and rags and try always to achieve a freshness and impression rather than an exact representation. I search out inspiration wherever I am. Even familiar scenes change with different light and the rotation of the seasons. I spend time on Arran, tramping well known paths and occasionally discovering new viewpoints. I enjoy painting on Islay and the West Coast. Fife too, with its big skies, provides a pleasing contrast.'
