Using photography, film and tv as a source of inspiration, I translate images into large scale charcoal and pastel drawings, variation is essential, so I will often revisit images making many drawings from the same image, each one will be unique.

Searching, finding and losing my place within the drawings is an ongoing process, each time I return to an image to draw from, it is a new journey of discovery.

I am inspired by the photographs of many great photographers both past and present, such as Eugene Atget, Winogrand and the contemporary photographer Tokihiro Sato to name a few.

Tokihiro’s woodland photographs were taken in the ancient Japanese beech forests in northern Japan, Shirakami-Sanchi, a Uniseco World Heritage site, Tokihiro Sato has been kind enough to give me permission to work form his photographs. 

The reasons I chose certain images to draw from also vary, sometimes there will be just one photograph from a photographer that I find compelling, with other photographers there will be more.

I chose intuitively and then one drawing will often affect my choice for the next, it will either be in complete contrast or may follow on in a similar theme.

Other sources include the small Botanical illustrations from the 1600s – 1800s, these were small intimate drawings or paintings, skilfully crafted by botanists, often displayed in albums. With my botanical drawings, I increase the scale dramatically which gives them a new commanding presence.

There is something elemental about charcoal, it is one of the least processed of tools to draw with, when I am holding a stick of charcoal  I feel connected with the material that I am making a mark with.

In contrast I also use soft pastel sticks with their rich array of pigments , differing textures, sometimes combining both charcoal and pastel in the same drawing.

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