Dec ’22 (swing, fall, tilt)

Acrylic and gold leaf on aluminium
36cm x 28cm

I was born in Liverpool in 1966 and studied Fine Art at Liverpool Polytechnic (Liverpool School of Art) from 1987 to 1991. I have exhibited widely in the UK including Jerwood Drawing Prize 2011, Castlefield Gallery Manchester 2012, “Magical Geometry”, Chapel Gallery Ormskirk 2017, “This is Painting”, Bankley Gallery Manchester 2018, “One plus One”, World of Glass Gallery St. Helens 2020 and, most recently, “Drawing Paper Show”, The Bridewell Liverpool 2023.

Taking inspiration from the history of Geometric Abstraction, my work is a constant exploration of non-representational forms which interact with each other within the indeterminate space of the picture plane. I use acrylic paint because it gives me the colour palette, precision and flatness of application which is integral to the synthetic environment I wish to create.

My painting “December 22 (swing, fall, tilt)”, is from a series of works in acrylic on aluminium plate which I have been working on for the last 3 years. I enjoy painting on the smooth machine-made surface which suits my process of flat application of acrylic paint. This also enhances the precise geometry of forms and the placement of these forms within the composition.

In this series I am exploring various themes including suspension, movement, tension and the force of gravitational pull. Crucial to this is the inclusion of the element of light. Inspired by Renaissance paintings of the Annunciation, a shaft of light appears from the top left hand side of my painting symbolising an unknown force of energy which activates and animates the form. In keeping with tradition this light is created using gold leaf. The triangulated structure of the form emphasises its motion within infinite blue space; the range of colours used reflect modernist geometric abstraction.