I wasn’t until I was 60 that I had space for art, studying Fine Art at the University for the Arts, Wimbledon. Art school opened my mind to many different ways of making art but experimenting on my own, away from other influences, turned me into an artist.

I work from my studio in Surrey and donate the proceeds from my paintings and workshops I run to charity. Being able to do something I love and also contribute to causes that I care about is very fulfilling. I teach art workshops and enjoy introducing people to the joy of painting. I run an art group – the Wildwood Artists – teaching and mentoring artists who want to develop their art practice professionally.

Painting Expressively

My paintings are abstract and my approach to painting is expressive. I paint intuitively using my imagination, expressing memories, feelings and reflections on what I see around me. My inspirations are usually quite specific, something I have seen in the countryside close to home or on trips abroad. Although I don’t paint what I see literally, observation is very important to my art practice.

Painting for me is similar to the improvisation of a jazz player: a kind of riffing around an initial idea with colour, shape and texture. As in jazz, I look for discordant elements to highlight the visual harmony. I’m looking for vibrant but subtle colour and rich textures to evoke a feeling, a place, a moment in time.

My paintings evolve in layers, progressively building up the image. Echoing the jazz analogy, I choose music tracks to name each painting, not just jazz also rock, pop, blues, folk, country – whatever I feel captures the spirit of the work.

Wildwood Artists

Since September 2017 I have been teaching an informal and flexible programme of art to a group of aspiring professional artists .

Members of the group are talented and enthusiastic about their art, Several have been to art school but left feeling dissatisfied at the level of training they received in the basic skills of art practice – understanding colour, guidelines for composition, how to approach abstraction

The teaching provides a programme of art learning – art concepts, skills and practices – set in the context of abstract art with an emphasis upon painting expressively and with imagination.

Wildwood Artists run exhibitions, branded ‘My Mind’s Eye’ also inviting guest artists. See them at the West Horsley Place Christmas Fair and summer exhibitions at Place Farm Barn, West Horsley Place.

Charity Fundraising

Tongabezi Charitable Trust(£45,500 raised) – The Tujatane School for Underprivileged Children and Twaabane Community Creative Centre, Simonga, near Victoria Falls in Zambia.

Tujatane School – provides schooling for children in Simonga up to age 15. Donations have sponsored and mentored the art teacher and provided art materials to create a visual arts programme for the children. See www.tujatane.com .

Twaabane Creative Centre – gives adults in the surrounding community access to free vocational skills training which will provide opportunities to generate livelihoods. So far the focus has been on market gardening and producing textile goods. I have been closely involved with and donating to Twaabane since its inception. We use local plants to dye fabrics – the next development is to build a dedicated facility where we can dye larger quanities of materials and store the fabrics. See www.twaabane.com

Home-Start Guildford (£11,500 raised) – supports families who are finding it hard to cope and who are exhausted or overwhelmed by the challenges of family life. Home-Start’s trained parent volunteers give them the help they need to get back on track and give their child the best possible start in life.

The Art Room (£5,895 raised) – provides art therapy spaces for 5 to 16 year olds who are experiencing emotional or behavioural difficulties.

Challengers Guildford (£6,500 raised) – dedicated to providing exciting and challenging play and leisure opportunities for disabled children and young adults.

The Eve Appeal (£8,325 raised) – supporting the better detection and treatment of Gynaecological cancers through awareness and research.