As a synaesthetic artist, my main work is with the visual representation of the forms,shapes, colours and textures of music. This work began when, as a mature student, I graduated from Hull College of Fine Art with my first Degree in Visual Studies in 1990.
As a 'side-effect' of quite severe hearing difficulties, I developed a condition known as synaesthesia - this means that I have an ability to both see and 'feel' as well as hear, music of all kinds, in particular classical music.
Unfortunately I also developed Tinnitus, a condition which fills my head with incessant, and often very dibilitating noises: however, whilst sometimes these two conditions can make life rather difficult, they have also taken me on a varied and fasinating journey of exploration which expresses itself in my creative art work.
Using predominantly Acrylic and and a wide range of mixed media, most of my paintings are concerned with trying to visually translate what I see and feel when I listen to music. I work with musicians, composers, and conductors in situ at concerts as the music is being played. I am Artist in Residence with several orchestras and music studios, and have also worked with Jazz and Brass Band musicians,church organists etc, as well as Vocal choirs and solo performers. Working with music often forges links with personal histories, and makes for some very interesting subject material!
Since graduating with my first degree, I have had several solo and joint exhibitions and am looking to develop this further. I teach painting and drawing to adults, and run taster sessions and workshops for both Adults and children using music as a theme for a variety of interesting projects. I graduated with my second BA hons Degree in Creative Writing in 2008, and my poetry inspires other ideas for painting based around the imagery of themes such as memory and travel.
My native East Riding of Yorkshire, and the beautiful Western Isles of Scotland imspire me to paint and write, using as inspiration the movement of the sea, the vastness of the sky in all weathers,linked with a particular 'essence' of memory and personal experience to create visual imagery
If you would like to see more of my work, please visit my website - the address of which is given on my professional members page.