Woodland

Woodland work completed in previous years.

First exhibited as 'Into the Woods' at Moray Art Centre 2016.

Some exhibited as part of 'Arboreal Realms' at Inverness Creative Academy 2024.

Next exhibiting as part of 'Arboreal', at the Open Space Vault gallery in Grantown-on-Spey, November 2024. Opening Fri 1st November 4-8pm. All welcome.

These paintings set out to capture the essence of distinct local woodland types in a fairly realistic manner - distilling their patterns, texture, colours and character into a poetic painted image while still referencing the ecological assemblages of plants that reflect the underlying geology, soil, climate and management history. The allure of woodlands is endlessly rekindled at each turn of the season. Whether clad in leaf or laid bare by winter, trees emanate a strong identity and locality of place. As trees don't move and are often quite accessible, many of these are painted outdoors sitting in woodland. Others are more imaginary abstract development of trees I have painted many times over, especially Birch which I keep going back to. Training as a botanist, plant ecologist and gardener strongly informs these works - the latin names of lichens, mosses and all the plants rattle round my head as I paint.