Artist Statement

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Working in the media of photography and sculpture my work is minimalist and inspired by the rooms we inhabit and the things within. 

 

In photography moments of inspiration can take me by surprise. These scenes I happen upon when I least expect and they cause me to pause in my day and really look. It might be a sink, an old radiator, a pillow, or a plug in a wall. It's always the light that I notice first, then I run for my camera. I’m very curious about the abstract qualities of the scene, the muted colours, the balance, the line and the texture. I marvel that a quiet unassuming scene can possess a quiet power to evoke emotions of calm, peace and reassurance, revealing a beauty in the ordinary. 

 

Recently, my photographic focus has shifted from these light filled scenes into rich dark velvety ones. I began focusing on still life, placing disparate objects together; a turnip, a glass vessel, a pewter warming plate, all chosen for their colour, form and texture, and setting them against a dark background. I’m interested in the dialogue between these objects. It is like a stage, a meditative drama in the guise of shadow and form where new connections are made. In this dialogue between objects, new connections emerge, inviting viewers to contemplate the timeless beauty and tranquillity found in the arrangement of everyday items.

 

My work in sculpture is abstract and is inspired by old hand tools and metalware. My interest was sparked by an old iron turf cutting tool called a ‘slean’. This handmade tool inspired  a series of upright standing stone sculptures which were cast in bronze, plaster and jesmonite. The plaster and jesmonite pieces were inlaid with wood and sometimes leather. To one I added a spring coiled handle inspired by an 18th century Irish pewter flagon. Tools made during these times were not only functional but the maker would add a motif, finial or quirky feature. This fusion of form and motif has become a focus in my sculpture practice offering rich and exciting possibilities.