“I’m interested in the relationship between people and the land, and how that interconnection is reflected in both body and landscape.

Painting is a form of gratitude for the wonder of the natural world and the beauty of everyday life that inspires my work. I spent years guiding wilderness canoe trips before teaching outdoor education and when I’m not painting, I’m happiest with my hands in the dirt, paddling the remote wilderness, or camping under the stars. I’m drawn to wild spaces and vast cloudscapes, yet equally captivated by the textures and colours in my woodland backyard. Light, both as subject and metaphor, is central to my work and as I care for my mother who has dementia, I’m fascinated with time, memory and the longing for a sense of place.

Plein Air sketches, small painted studies, and photographs are done outdoors and taken back to my studio to work from. Taking these outdoor experiences and translating them to canvas or birch panels in the studio is an exciting challenge. I especially enjoy working with oils and often add glazes to enhance the luminosity and depth.

I aim to capture light, the earth’s wild and fragile spaces, and what I recall feeling in the moment of inspiration. Painting my experiences allows for a more intimate connection with the subject and myself, and sharing these with the viewer adds depth and meaning to my process.”