Self taught or art school?
I did my Art and Design Diploma at The Central School of Speech and Drama before going on to train as an art therapist. I went for the training though that was very creative process oriented though so did it at The University of Hertfordshire. It was important to me to maintain my studio practice which we did on the course, with it being part of the Art and Design building..which meant we could use all of their facilities as we worked towards an end of year exhibition.
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
How would you describe your style?
Abstract Expressionism
Where are your favourite places to view art?
I love the Tate Modern, it’s such a fantastic space and I have seen so many good exhibitions in there. I’ve also been visiting the Venice Biennale over the last few years and love the spaces there too. We had been saying we should go every two years. It’s my dream to exhibit there.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
Anselm Kiefer, Per Kirkeby, Sorolla, Turner, Antony Gormley, Lucien Freud, Brancusi, Louise Bourgeois, Paula Rego, Helen Frankenthaler, Barbara Hepworth I love colour and layers and layers of texture. I love the softness of Turners works and how some of those artists use art as a way to process feelings and experiences. Their work grabs my attention without knowing what it is about. Then when I find out about what the work is about I find that the meaning also stirs something in me. And Brancusi’s work…because it’s just so smooth and Voluptuous and dying to be touched. That’s not even thinking about all the more contemporary lesser known artists whose work I love.
What or who inspires your art?
I am inspired by the landscape around me but rather than paint directly from what I see, I am inspired by how the landscape makes me feel, memories if it, which I bring to my paintings along with literature and poetry which for me paints a picture in my mind. I have grown up in Cyprus and around the UK, now living in Wales and all the experiences and memories of the different cultures, myths, histories feed into my work.
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
My studio is at our home in Wales. I am very lucky to live somewhere very wide and open with the sound of a running stream through the garden. We are just in the process of house renovations and extending my studio space which is bringing in a lot more needed space and light. We put in double doors to connect it to the garden and I’m planning on building a little outdoor courtyard space to sketch in too. Otherwise I’d describe my studio as messy. Not quite Francis Bacon messy but when I’m in the midst of painting the last thing I want to be doing is worrying about mess.
Do you have any studio rituals?
Several cups of tea to get me going and then start on new work so that I can develop a rhythm. If that happens, great and then I can move onto paintings that I am working on and hopefully resolve areas or finish new work. If not, then I will work on building up the underlayers and texture that becomes important later on. I also love music and often have something playing but sometimes painting in silence is good too!
What are you working on currently?
Mostly on extending my studio and marketing. With all the upheaval there hasn’t been the physical or mental space to start a new project. I do however have an idea for a big new project which I’m looking forward to start working on as soon as things are finished in the studio.
What are your ambitions?
To keep growing as an artist. To create larger work and exhibit abroad more. I would love to exhibit in New York.