From a young age I had a fascination with drawing. Some of my earliest memories are of scribbling frantically with pencils and crayons; although my talents then amassed to little more than stick men. This in itself is probably not very unique, but for some reason over thirty years on it seems to me to have been the seed of something profound in my life. As I grew through childhood and even those temperamental teens something else also grew: a passion for painted pictures and a compulsion to create my own.

In a world bombarded with photographic images and digital media, you could be forgiven for thinking that Painting is no longer relevant. It is true that the traditional role of the Artist, as the recorder of people and events has been superseded by the technology of photography and the moving image which, in the twentieth century led many Artists to explore a different role.

In 1917, a ceramic urinal laid on its back was presented as Art. Whilst it caused shock and outrage, the artist, Marcel Duchamp, through his piece ‘Fountain’ is now arguably attributed as the instigator of ‘Ready-made’ Art. Now in the 21^st Century, ‘Ready-made’ Art continues to cause controversy through the work of artists such as Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.

Love it or hate it, works in this vein could be argued as epitomising the new role of the Artist; not just that of a recorder but that of the interpreter. By that I mean an interpreter of people, events or social attitudes. I believe this is the natural and correct position of Art in modern society and one of tremendous importance

For many Artists though, the appeal of expression through Ready-made objects is limited. For some, this is undoubtedly due to a need to hearken back to an almost forgotten sense of craftsmanship. In this sense, Paint is a medium that remains a powerful alternative. It requires time and patience to both master and exercise, and as such sits suitably contrary to the ‘quick-fix’ demands of modern society. Because of this, each Painting is an original and uniquely precious object.

The hours spent at a canvas can be a see-saw of emotions, from frustration to elation. Even when it reflects outwardly, Painting is often an introspective experience, the Artist permeating their work with very personal sensibility; and it is the consciousness of this relationship between Artist and Painting that can make us connect with a work of Art at a very personal level. With Ready-made Art, this connection is lost for whilst the Artist changes the context, they do not create the original object.

The same can be said for the relationship between Artist and subject. It is certainly an experience itself to be the subject of a Painting. The Artist seeks to understand and interpret the core of the individual and often, as we look at portraits we are given a very personal glimpse of the person, the Artist’s sentiments and the relationship between the two.

Ultimately, the fashion of Art is like the fashions of music or clothing, tastes inevitably move in circles; and fashions come and go like the seasons; it is a symptom of the fickleness of modern society. Regardless, I believe that Painting will continue to be the medium most accessible to the wider public.

For me, Painting is an opportunity. It is an opportunity to explore the human condition, and through my work, I look to examine concepts around the private and intimate moments of human life. This can imbue the paintings with a sensuality which I think fitting given the emotive nature of the human animal. As an Artist, it is my desire to reflect and express. Sometimes the expression will come directly from my own experiences and feelings, sometimes as a reaction or reflection to world in which I live. It’s not a choice; Painting is part of me, but I would not have it any other way.