Artist's biography

I was born and live in Middlesbrough in north east England, I recently graduated from my BA (Hons ) Fine Art degree from Cleveland College Of Art and Design in May 2008. Throughout my artistic development I have experimented with variety of disciplines from, drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture.

I have also been fortunate enough to exhibit my artwork. in both locally galleries in the UK and in Europe exhibitions in both Bulgaria and Spain.
However, as my work has developed I have found that my work has become increasingly built upon the foundation of two fundamental principles; drawing and capturing both artist and subject. I feel these ideals have been expressed in there truest form by two highly contrasting artists; Max Ernst and Tania Kovats. Throughout my degree I have been exploring Ernst’s philosophy of the outer eye and inner eye. This simply means when producing my work I am trying keep half of my attention fixed on reality, of analytical drawing and external influences and references, whilst the other half of my attention will be focused inwards on my emotions and imagination when producing the work.
Like Tania Kovats I like to consider drawing to be the primary means of visual expression. From primitive men cave painting to someone applying eyeliner, doodling whilst on the phone or making someone a map on the back of an envelope, we all draw. However, many people consider an artist someone who has a have sharp eye, a steady hand or a vivid imagination, although many claim to be so without expressing evidence of any of these qualities. It is these key attributes I would like to portray in my work.

SOLO AWARDS

2008 BAKER PRIZE FOR PAINTING – Awarded by David Walker
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN STUDIO PRACTICE THROUGHOUT THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM – Awarded by Basil Beattie