My work consists of figurative oil paintings predominantly created from life. I consider the process of painting from life to be crucial to the outcome of my work, as this allows room for a relationship to form between the sitter and me. This is also a useful method for exploring the three-dimensionality of a sitter’s form and gaining an insight into their life through conversation. I value the time I spend with a sitter, in a culture that demands instant gratification. Oil paints allow for flexibility, especially in the early stages of a painting. I generally engage in painting intuitively, rather than through heavy use of preparatory sketches or aids.

Human relationships and societal norms are an important aspect of my practice. I aim to create paintings that can be readily viewed and interpreted by the general public, using humour as a tool to communicate my recent research findings. My current research concerns gender representation in contemporary art (within the broader context of art history and global variations). Since the work of female painters is currently valued at a tenth of their male contemporaries, I question why the art world is slow to progress towards equality. My most recent work aims to address the historical and current gender imbalance in the art world. I encourage the viewer to question the way men and women are viewed, represented and portrayed in art, as well as the value we place on artists of different genders.