Art Competitions should be great right? Except for me and I suspect many artists it’s a slippery slope from elation to devastation and some extra drama and shirt wrenching thrown in. Want to spiral then enter a competition and wait for the “ Unfortunately…” email. It’s a masochistic roller coaster.

2025 Year in Review — A Year of Colour, Curiosity & Creative Courage

2025 has been a year of looking closely, trusting my instincts, and letting colour lead the way. I’ve spent more time painting from life, wandering through gardens, and following the small moments that spark joy and meaning. My studio has been full of still life stories, lush botanicals, and landscapes shaped by memory and place.

As always, my work stays rooted in observation — drawing, looking, noticing — then building those moments into layered, exuberant paintings on board. It’s been a year of growth, connection, and making art that feels true to where I am and who I’m becoming.

Here’s to more beauty, generosity, and creative confidence in the year ahead.

I’ve spent the past year immersed in still life, and the work has evolved in ways that continue to surprise me. From large-scale explorations of identity and memory to small, food-inspired pieces painted from above, each series has its own story. Along the way, I’ve reflected on home, gardens, and the objects that carry meaning — and discovered that even the simplest fruit can inspire a world of colour, form, and memory.

Still life as an exploration of identity

Anyone can draw! It doesn’t matter how many times someone says they can’t I know in my bones you can.