When I was earning my BFA at university in the late 90s, we were taught that artwork needed to be about something, something important. For myself, I still want that to some degree. I do want my work to be meaningful. For over 20 years, I created work that was earnest, with serious subject matter, about the Earth, the environment and my place in it.

Now that I’m older and somewhat wiser, I want to make happier artwork. And I want the process to be fun, not weighted down by worrying about how effectively a piece conveys my intention. To make this shift was harder than I thought it would be. Abstraction is challenging; I needed a whole new process.

Since 2024, I have been using paint colours I have never tried before. I am planning less and letting my inner 5 year old really play in the early stages of my work. I use lots of collage with text and imagery to build up layers, so from an distance and up close, there are always discoveries to be made. I make a lot of my own collage papers, often incorporating organic materials. I find it miraculous how by ‘trying’ less hard, I can find more joy in the process and make artwork that is expressive and inviting.