I am largely a self-taught artist. Since moving from Woodstock in Oxfordshire to St Ives in 2000 I have focused on developing my contemporary abstract paintings which were very influenced by this new life on the edge of the sea. This is evident in my use of the subtle blues and grey colours that dominate my work and reflect the constant changing light and weather that passes across the bay. Favourite sources of design are the Cornish landscape; abstract grids; and Venice buildings – but many paintings are an intuitive exploration of colour and texture where the outcome is unknown – which is both scarey and exciting! My early work involved textiles when I used manipulated fabric and stitch in muted, textured panels. Although no longer using textiles, many of my paintings, hangings, sculptures and book forms feature applied papers and a variety of textures which create a rich and interesting surface which is often built up layer upon layer. An important part of much of my work is the inclusion of fragments of personal letters and various texts and typefaces, from which many of the paintings’ titles are taken.