"My friend handed me a heavy carrier bag. During a house clearance, he had found a drawer of mixed 19th and 20th century silverware - for me, glorious treasure! Whose journey had brought home the dainty camel spoon? Which infant had been lovingly fed with the little art deco feeding spoon, and who owned the elegant French sardine fork with its shapely tines?
I love old things. They don’t have to be valuable but they do need to be familiar, ordinary even - something we all understand. Dents, scuffs and patina suggest a story. We recognise these very human marks of wear which allow us to feel a link with those who once owned them.
I moved last year from my conservatory studio, which was light-filled but either very cold or very hot depending on the season. The new place is a lot more comfortable. It can’t offer the same amount of light but I enjoy the shadows in this new space; I think the move has given a subtle shift, a new depth and mood to the paintings. A small commonplace subject thrown into relief by shadow has different weight and consequence. Shadows can suggest quiet contemplation, a touch of nostalgia and even a little melancholy. After all, life is full of light and shade."
● Sold
● Reserved
If you are interested in any of the reserved paintings, it is worth contacting the gallery as they may become available.
