ARTIST  STATEMENT

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In 2013,  I came to live in Malta for what I thought was going to be a one-year stint. Then  I became so captivated by its rich culture, creamy tiered architecture, vivid blue sky, sea and dramatic clouds. With so many mysterious tunnels, nooks, and alleys, I was hooked. My current work expresses my fascination with this place. What intrigues me most are the constant revelations of hidden treasures.  Stairways wind and undulate everywhere. There are obscured chambers, walled gardens and grand palaces hidden behind unassuming limestone walls. For me, the best of Malta is discovered on the seat of a Vespa, cycling through narrow passages and steep village mazes. I love the thrill of maneuvering between the patchwork of stone-trimmed fields where the view often opens to long, serpentine lines leading down to the sea. 

Mixed media gives me the opportunity to play with the images that inspire me most. My paintings may begin with multiple layers of paint and some collaged or transferred photos, frequently adjusting the colours to flow into the painting as a vignette. Other times, I paint a scene directly and overlay more colour, found objects and cold wax into the designs.  

To me, layering is the key to appreciating the tensions and transitions of such an ancient culture.  In general, my work celebrates the significance of place. Although this place is dominated by Baroque,  Medieval and even Megalithic structures, it is also clearly making strides into the modern era. I enjoy celebrating the contrasting aesthetics by embedding the distinctive, old features into new, contemporary media.