Posh Paper Mache in Painted Form
If you are a connoisseur of my irreverent world of Posh Paper Mache then you may have noticed developments have been afoot!
My Posh Paper Mache characters have been multiplying in two dimensional form and have found a natural habitat within my paintings…
I have made paintings as part of my art practice all my life, and having been to art school was indoctrinated that seriousness, academia and reverence were the correct approaches to making a painting, but in spite of my best efforts at being a “serious” painter, in truth, I always come back to brightness, boldness and a little sillyness which unavoidably define my style!
Seagulls At Pelistry with a Chicken Painting
They say mid-life is when you stop worrying about what others think, and that may ring true, because for the last several years I have simply breathed a sigh of relief and settled in to what comes naturally. Rather than pay attention to the nagging voice of convention (which oddly, as a van driving, gig going, crazy cat and chicken lady doesn’t seem to worry me in other areas of life!), I have finally shaken off the shackles of art school thinking and freed myself to paint what I see fit.
I know full well how to make a good composition, use colour, balance a painting and make reference to a paintings context in the history of art, which so much that is offered as art seems to sidestep. I enjoyed years of life drawing as well as moonlighting as a caricaturist, so I can draw you a pretty good face or hand if you like, (although I’m a bit out of practice these days) and I used to be the bees knees at foreshortening back in college, but I find an analytical approach to creativity gets soooooooo boring, don’t you think?
Six Oystercatchers
Art is meant to be freeing and expressive right? That’s how we all approach it as children, before we are told that what we are painting is supposed to actually look like something. I see artists showing off their amazing photo realistic paintings online which really are skill-full and precise and think I would have to have a lie down in a dark room for a good while if I had to make a painting like that…it just looks to me that all the fun has been sucked out of the process!
My art school training will show up in my work regardless, and I have been told as much, which is still no bad thing, but ignoring the finger wagging voice of conformity and smudging my natural humour and playfulness onto a canvas feels as relaxing as a hot bath, so I’m sorry traditionalists, but I’m going to follow my soul.
Seven Seagulls
In everyday life, I feel happiest when there are meaningful and interesting things surrounding me, things that are visually interesting, things that are bright and colourful, in contrast, boring monotone surroundings feel oppressive and send me running to the hills! I love going into every room in my house and being instantly hit with colour and able to scan my surroundings to see things that light up the pleasure centres in my brain, serving as little reminders of this and that. Being surrounded by pops of glorious technicolour instantly cheers up even the gloomiest of rooms when subject to the inclement U.K. weather. Currently my own home is brought to life with with pinks and turquoises against a refreshing white painted wooden floor and of course a healthy smattering of my own art, which I highly recommend trying as an addition to your wellbeing.
An observer recently asked me if I preferred large swathes of colour or a many different colours on a canvas. My current approach has to be more is more! The maximalist interplay of lots and lots of complimentary and clashing colours together in an unruly composition is like a really satisfying meal with layers of flavour - there’s so much to enjoy! A quick glance outside tells us that the natural world does not keep things boring and controlled, we love nature because of it’s chaos and colour and that’s what I want to bring to my paintings too!
Palms With Sparrows, Tea Towel Print of Palms With Sparrows and Jack Meower
Perhaps today you are looking out on a grey day and these ideas inspire you to seek out something more joyful to break the monotony. Maybe the magnolia has monopolised your home and you are thinking about having your eyeballs entertained by something more cheerful? If this is you why not take a look around the rest of my website for some more inspiration?
If you would like something to cheer up your walls I have plenty of paintings to browse - sign up to my mailing list to hear first about new work and exhibitions. Or pick something fun from my sculpture collection to add amusement to a boring corner. If you are creative yourself you can download and make a selection of my designs yourself which you can find elsewhere in my Blog and paint them whatever crazy colours that you like! However you want to add vibrancy to your life, start to day and make sure to have fun doing it!
This collection of paintings will be heading down to our guest house, The Palms, on St. Mary’ Isles of Scilly which will be newly open to guests later on in 2026. Please contact me for any enquiries.
