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I was born in London in 1967. I studied for my art Foundation at Kingsway College, London and my Fine Art degree in Painting at St Martin’s College, London, graduating in 1998. When I’m not pursuing other creative interests, I spend my time in my South London studio making art.
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My current work centres on a series of creature characters . They are friendly, non-judgemental, playful companions who help me to express feelings such as love, trust, hope, joy and calm. The characters also allow me to explore much more complex thoughts and states of mind such as uncertainty and anxiety.
These simple characters sit somewhere between real animals and fantasy creatures and share human sensibilities. They are influenced by my love of animals, my childhood memories, toys I once had, picture books, Disney movies and 1970’s children’s TV programmes. The characters are slowly evolving and I am committed to them and their world.
My approach starts with a sketch using pencil or charcoal on paper and progresses to an investigation of colour with soft pastels. The charcoal and pastel drawings are then fixed using a method that wipes away parts of the drawing and leaves traces of fixative on the surface. I call this method ‘interference’ and it gives the drawing a subtle patina.
Once I have become familiar with my character I can start the process of painting. Each work is made using oil paint on primed linen on wooden stretchers. Many of my painting techniques are derived from studying European painters of the Renaissance and Baroque using a variety of coloured grounds. These techniques include Grisaille Underpainting, working with Alla Prima wet on wet, Scumbling and Glazing. When I glaze a work I build up the surface to create colours that can only happen when one colour is applied on top of another.
I have many influences but my way of thinking or spiritual connection is not easy to pin down. My thoughts often feel like two worlds colliding. Maybe it has something to do with my mixed ethnicity. My father was English and my mother was born in England, but is of Anglo-Irish Japanese heritage. So growing up I had a strange feeling of belonging nowhere and everywhere.
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Murphy & Sykes Pop-Up Show, Victoria Works, London 2024 Murphy & Sykes Pop-Up Show, Victoria Works, London 2023
Murphy & Sykes Pop-Up Show, Havelock Walk, London 2019
Jeffrey Meier Gallery, Group Show, NJ 2015
‘Spring Fever’ SaatchiArt group show, Hyatt Regency, London 2014
Members Show, Outpost, Norwich selected by Cerith Wyn Evans 2011
Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy, London 2010
‘Kunstwerk Bazaar’ Group Show, Outpost, Norwich selected by Andrew Hunt 2008
Mind as Machine, Group show, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery 2007
‘Spirit of the Age’ Salthouse 07, Group Show, Salthouse Church 2007
The Postcard Show, Group show, Surface Gallery, Nottingham 2006
‘Postcards From the Edge’ Group Show, Sikkema Jenkins, NY 200‘Peace Camp’ hosted by Bob & Roberta Smith, Group show, Brick Lane Gallery 2006
Jerwood Drawing Prize, Jerwood Space and UK tour 2006
‘Draw Drawing 2’ Group show, Foundry Gallery, London 2006
‘A Dog Walk Round New Costessey’ Solo show Outpost, Norwich 2006
Jerwood Drawing Prize, Group show, Jerwood Space and UK tour 2005
‘Arts Unwrapped’ Vyner Street, ACAVA Studios, London 2005
‘Animals’ Group Show, Serena Hall Gallery, Southwold 2005
BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London 2001
Group Show, Century Gallery, Cremer Street, Shoreditch 2000
Group Show, Tricycle Gallery, Kilburn, London 1999
‘Precious’ Creative Space Installation, Whiteleys, London 1998
‘Vote For Art’ Internet Group show, Research Business international 1998 ‘ Awarded Judges Prize by Sarah Kent
Group Show, The Wharf, Islington, London 1997 -