In my paintings there is a story happening on the surface, but everything is not spelt out. I believe it is important to allow room for the imagination and interpretation of the viewer, and indeed the artist. I'm an admirer of the Surrealist philosophy of seeking to let thoughts and responses occur at the intuitive or subconscious level, and I believe in allowing opportunities for this in the creation of art.

Painting for me is on one level a technical and aesthetic challenge; an exploration of form, composition, colour and textures. But it is also a tradition with limitless potential for expressing moods and feelings, creating original narratives, and reflecting on the concerns of the artist. Recently, I've been working from images that interest me on a visual and topical level (recent paintings include imagery from Japanese "kawaii" (cute) and pop culture, prisoners, hospitals, and Chernobyl), which I use and sometimes combine to create new stories and atmospheres. Where the source material comes from is not necessarily important to the final work or the intended meaning, but can help inspire in the making of it.

"It's better not to know so much in a way about what things mean or how they might be interpreted, or you'll be too afraid to let it keep happening… There are things that resonate in areas that words can't find out about and these are subconscious areas." David Lynch

I would describe my current work as representational, with Surrealist, Expressionist, Impressionist, Pop, cinematic and photographic influences. I usually paint in oil on canvas. I often apply paint with a pallet knife, which gives me the thick textures and feel I am looking for....