I have loved banana plants since my first visit to Bermuda as a student. I was immediately captivated by the lush subtropical growth of the island, which subsequently consumed me creatively for years. After uni in wet and grey Manchester in the north of England, the island was truly a visual paradise.
I spent many hours during my early career painting banana plants in my in-law's garden and the hidden banana patches around the island. Sitting amongst these lush green spaces was a sanctuary with only the feral chickens, kiskadees and red cardinals to keep me company.
When I started my year-long residency at a local flower farm in May 2023 I was delighted by a row of enormous bananas. I spent my first 6 months at the farm drawing and painting the landscape and flowers, always aware the bananas would feature eventually.
My banana pieces are about me coming full circle, returning to the flora I have always loved, and transporting me back to another time and another place. There has been a major shift in scale, my early works were no bigger than 9cm square and now are up to 120x120cm.
