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About the Paintings

This collection of paintings arose from a vague but persistent yearning for the sense of safety that comes with feeling 'contained' in a nourishing, nurturing way, whether enveloped in a hug, wrapped in a cosy blanket, nestling in the nook at the roots of an ancient tree, or in my case, in the embrace of cold salt water.

I became obsessed with the idea of a terrarium; a container that holds life - is in fact brimming with life, like a rock pool - and also, being open, lets it breathe.

Contained but free.

Some Useful Info

Come behind the scenes and watch me start work on the 'Held' paintings

About the artist

My art has always been a way to explore what freedom feels like, which sounds counterintuitive for a collection about containment.

But what is freedom without a safe place to retreat to?

If we never feel held by love, in whatever form, how can we even know what freedom is?

I may dream of roaming endlessly, beyond the constraints of schedules and commitments, but it would feel hollow and edgeless without knowing there's a safe harbour when I need it.

Like the image of the astronaut, suddenly cut loose from their tether, and lost to the infinity of space.

There are so many ways the sea gives me a feeling of being held.

Whether it's absorbed in the aquatic cocoon of a mermaid pool, floating in the wide arms of the bay where I live, or exploring the tiny universes of the rock pools, full of shells and crevices where the sea creatures live, I wanted to explore the idea of feeling held in this collection, with the sea as my guide and touchstone.