For me as an artist, painting is a true self expression of my thoughts and interpretation of the world around me. Consequently if I were to paint in one uniformed style that would be me professing that I’ve figured it all out and that there is no room for me to grow as a person/artist. But I am self aware enough to realise that I am just like the next person, complete with my own share of human flaws and much like everybody else - just figuring life out one step at a time. And therefore you will see a natural modulation and exploration throughout my painting collection.

‘Creativity is intelligence having fun. I am open to new ideas and I will always be continually learning and growing as a person & artist.’

I work in three key styles, the collection of paintings form THE ART OF OPTIMISM. Each style explores the theme of optimism from a different perspective; NOW, in the FUTURE and lastly to MAKE SENSE of things in order to understand why it’s so imperative that we remain optimistic in the first place.

My signature style and what I am known for (having painted in this style for 15 years) is the Geometric Pop art style of painting. It’s all about living in the moment and basking in the good times in life once they’ve arrived. It’s completely hedonistic and liberating. In contrast to the softer, textured, moodier atmospheric paintings that are more realistic in representing the landscape around us. This painting style explores optimism from the standpoint of being aware that we must often accept the long and arduous journey through the dark and challenging times in order to attain the brighter days that lay ahead of us in the distant future - remaining optimistic is what keeps us persevering. The final style I work in is the Dreamscape portrayals of the world with a surreal element to them. They explore the impermanence and the fragility of life, focusing on love, time and death - but in doing so they illuminate how precious and sacred life is and how imperative it is to remain optimistic even when we’re lost, defeated or challenged. Together all three key collections of paintings form The Art of Optimism.

Many artists work in one key style that they’re known for and this becomes their signature style - they continue to paint in this style as the years and decades go on. However, for me I would liken the way I navigate my artist journey similarly to how musicians (who have stood the test of time,) work over a lifetime - where they naturally return every 5 years or so with a new style or iteration. They become the masters of reinvention. I fit into that idea as I believe the creative soul is never content for a long period of time. It’s natural to evolve, develop and change over time because it mirrors our own personal journey of self discovery and shifting philosophies we live by as we venture through life.

For example the artwork David Hockney is celebrated for predominately is his pop art inspired paintings. But his wider collection includes various styles and mediums including photo collage to surreal dark and haunting paintings. People wouldn’t say that Hockney is ‘lost’, but rather they celebrate his diversity.

Personally and professionally as an artist (as the two are interwoven) I am a restless soul - but that doesn’t mean I am lost with no key sense of direction. Quite the opposite - I am focused and relentless in my natural quest to paint.

Some people who are restless souls use meditation as a way to calm themselves and work through it. I turn to painting as my form of meditation to work through the thoughts and ideas in my head - and this is explored on canvas. Therefore somedays I am feeling pensive and moody and contemplative, other days I’m feeling content or even euphoric. No matter how I am feeling I always hold onto optimism. Therefore my collection of paintings is diverse in style yet united in the exploration of the theme of optimism. And the key philosophy behind all of my paintings is ….‘A vision of an inspiring future keeps us persevering throughout life‘s challenges.’

When it comes to my dreamscape style of art work these are more contemplative and surreal with an element of suspended reality. This collection comes from my sketchbook, in this way it serves as a type of mindset journal. Some people use written word and journals to work through their ideas and beliefs, but for me sketching is my tool to make sense of the world around me. I decided to release this collection of artworks because the philosophies were quite profound for me and therefore I believe they may also resonate with other people.

With Dreamscape I learnt that you cannot always live in a state of being optimistic, but it is important to try. Love, time, death and the impermanence and the fragility of life are concepts and ideas that illuminate how precious and sacred life is. Life doesn’t always seem to make sense to us, but it’s up to us to try and make sense of it. It’s important to remain optimistic especially when we’re still desperately trying to resolve our issues or as we strive towards the things we believe will make us happy. We can’t just blindly go through life being optimistic all of the time, sometimes we have to take a step back and reevaluate our personal values and beliefs to make sure that the things we’re chasing after will in fact make us happy.

To summarise, for me as a person and as an artist, remaining optimistic in my life is key. Therefore optimism runs throughout all of my paintings, irrespective of their subject, style or medium variances.