the ‘nuzzle’ series of paintings

the ‘nuzzle’ series of paintings

The ‘nuzzle‘ series explores the quiet comfort of closeness – the way two forms, colours, or feelings can rest gently against each other. Each painting captures that simple connection we feel when something fits just right, their boundary both a line of separation and a site of intimacy. The bold shapes and colours suggest touch, trust, and ease – moments of soft contact where energy meets calm. ‘Nuzzle’ is about warmth without words, and the beauty of things that belong side by side.

The simple shapes invite the viewer to feel rather than analyse – a gentle nudge, a leaning-in. A nuzzle.

Nuzzling is about proximity, juxtaposition, and how the application of the paint makes the colour on colour texture and alters vibrancy and saturation. The colour pairings speak to, and across the white that separates and divides them. Resting in closeness. Together, but individual, connected across the divide.

Most of the series are on 12×12 inch or 30x30cm boards (almost the same!) because I like the way that tightness of the square format compacts the nuzzling sensation.

Like horizons – it’s a theme I return to, they are each, a conversation in simple colours.

Explore the series.

the ‘odd couple’ at art@one

the ‘odd couple’ at art@one

The ‘Odd couple‘ acrylic painting was on show at the art@one Autumn exhibition ‘Conversations in colour’ at the Lodge in Hemingford House.

The exhibition was an eclectic mix of artworks in sculpture, wood carving & ceramics, mixed media, watercolour, acrylic & oil paintings on canvas, boards and paper. It’s a beautiful occasional gallery space and the curators Maria & Hilary manage to make it feel special every time, with exhibits spilling out into the gardens around.

I’m happy to say that it was my second time there too!

The Odd couple‘ acrylic painting has been a lot of fun on Instagram and TikTok because I was able to include the music soundtrack from the film – ‘The Odd Couple’ by Neal Hefti.

Picture below shows me and my mum with the ‘Odd couple’ behind us.

me and mum with my painting 'odd couple'

on display at The Glass House Cambridge

on display at The Glass House Cambridge

We-hoo 😉
Six of my paintings are in the Glass House in Cambridge!

This week I hung some of my artwork in the boardroom at Innovate Cambridge*!

I AM OVER the moon that my art will be helping the vibe of the room to bring about inspiring conversations, and if it’s really a dull meeting – have something nice to look at!

I gave Chanelle who was my contact a few options for the room. I had three series that would have all worked – one aptly called ‘Conversations‘ which visualises conversation types, sparked by the Trump – Zelensky White House broadcast, and one called ‘Falling‘, but we went for the ‘Devour’ series, however, because we were working with immovable fixings in the wall ‘Candour’ didn’t make the cut (although the name was 100% right for meetings!) I’d mixed in a few of my ‘Colouramas‘ into each series – despite all the planning there was a mad dash to get a couple of extra pictures framed and over as we had a weird gap (those immovable fixings in the wall!) – all looks great now!

My work will be there until November, so if you go, please take a pic of your favourite and tag me – social juice is always welcome as I’m trying to grow my arts business 🙂 (like and share, like and share!)

The ‘Devour‘ series are faux landscapes (good enough to eat!), expressive pieces that evoke stormy, elemental landscapes, where smoky greys meet intense colours. ‘Fervour‘ is probably my favourite and has proved most popular for prints (followed by ‘Savour’), and did win first prize in the village show!

The three larger framed paintings are what I call ‘Colouramas’ where I practice how I’m going to move, choose the colours to reflect my mood and then come to the canvas with intention and energy.

*Innovate Cambridge was launched in September 2022 to define the future of the Greater Cambridge life sciences and technology ecosystem to ensure it continues to transform the UK and the world for the better.

“A small act is worth a million thoughts.” Ai Weiwei

Fervour - winner of the art prize

me and o-Hara

me and o-Hara

I’ve been going to the CamCreatives free monthly meetup since it started over 15 years ago by my dear friend and ex-colleague Paul Smith. CamCreatives is a vibrant and inclusive community bringing together diverse interests across design, arts, media, literature, publishing, photography, multimedia, performing arts, education and culture.

In February 2025 CamCreatives were given a shop for a week in Cambridge Grand Arcade to showcase the talent from the group – it has 4500 artist members, so choosing what went in was a challenge!  The Artist Showcase was called by many ‘a mini RA Summer Exhibition’, because Cambridgeshire has a phenomenal amount of talent.

I was over the moon to have my ‘o-Hara‘ painting in the show, which I now offer as a Giclee print. It’s a conscious swirl of scarlet, reds and pinks – named after Scarlett O’Hara from the movie ‘Gone with the wind’, because Scarlett channels female passion, defiance and vulnerability. The sweeping gestures in crimson and magenta evoke intensity – of being both wounded and unbreakable, driven by survival yet haunted by desire. The darkened strokes suggest the weight of loss and pride, while the luminous pinks cut through with resilience, echoing a refusal to be defeated. O-Hara is not a portrait but an atmosphere — a storm of willpower, longing, and the relentless flame of every woman who embodies both fragility and ferocity. There’s a little bit of o-Hara in all of us.

I was interviewed as part of the  talking about my painting on Cambridge 105 and where ‘o-Hara’ was being exhibited – find me at about 41 mins in!

the ‘colourama’ series of paintings

the ‘colourama’ series of paintings

Like ‘Horizons’, ‘Colourama’s‘ are always about the juxtaposition of colours – either in the same family, opposites or complementary. How they look together and what happens when they meet, and what happens when the canvas is left bare – how the texture of the canvas makes it’s own little conversation in the painting. They are intuitive paintings, reflecting how I was feeling, both in colour and energy. Some are inspired by something in the real world, but mostly they are not.

They usually have a roundness and overlays. I practise the moves before paint goes onto the canvas and I often ‘mix’ the colours on the canvas, dropping on colours, moving them around with squeegees, silicon brushes and hake brushes. My intent in my painting is for them to resonate with you and for you to join me in the feeling.

I’m a big fan of Craigie Aitchison, David Hockney, Donald Hamilton Fraser, Howard Hodgkin, Rothko, Barbara Hepworth and Barbara Rae and hope I am channelling those artists, who for me, connect so well with us.

Colourama are a series of acrylic paintings on various size canvas boards and paper playing with colour.

Colourama is a theme I keep coming back to.

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