I am an oil-painter-turned-watercolourist. I now specialising exclusively in light-filled watercolour and love that it is such a mobile medium. I maximise its fluid properties for my work, pushing them to the full with my ‘gravity painting’ techniques.
My painting practice began thirty years ago in Singapore with a series of architectural studies in oils (above). Prints of these disappearing buildings sold out at art fairs, in galleries and Changi Airport. In 1998 I was invited to hold my first solo exhibition at the British High Commissioner’s Official Residence. At the same time I created pencil portraits for clients and completed architectural commissions for the US Embassy, Reuters, the British High Commission and British Club to name a few.
In 2006 I returned to the UK, setting-up a studio/gallery in Bath. My oil portrait ‘The butterfly house’ was selected for the final of the Holburne Portrait Prize 2010 and sold at The Society of Women Artists’ 2013 Annual Exhibition. My watercolour portrait ‘Robbie’ (above) was selected by the Royal Watercolour Society in 2011 and in Bankside Gallery with the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours in 2012. By carefully controlling the way light falls on my portrait sitters, I enjoy creating dramatic but intimate portrait commissions for families and individuals alongside my landscape practice.
The subtle light of the atmospheric British weather – particularly ephemeral mists, rays of sunlight and glittering reflected light – inspired my first UK exhibition ‘Atmospherics’ in 2010 and still inspires me in 2026 You can find out all about my exhibitions here.
I now use rigid surfaces to faithfully record the mingling of my cascading pigments within water as they react naturally together. I explain my techniques fully in my book ‘Capturing light – creating radiant landscapes in watercolour’ Search Press Ltd 2023. Follow this link to explore the book.
I have enjoyed tutoring for over a decade now, explaining my methods at art society demos and workshops as well as teaching at some wonderful art centres and holidays detailed here: art centres and holidays page. I take my own intensive Bath Watercolour Workshops and Retreats. Contact me to sign up to my workshop news by email so that you never miss a date. I am a resident writer for The Artist Magazine and create Subscriber Videos for Bristle their online community. Here is a short introduction to my methods:
Links:
Society of Women Artists – Member
Bristle Studio – Leisure Painter and The Artist Online Subscriber videos
Holburne Museum – Bath Art Gallery and former portrait prize
Bath Society of Artists Open Exhibition – regular contributor