Bermuda Honey and Thai Basil
This still life was part of the final series I painted in my Cedar Creek studio as I packed up after 14 years. Each work was painted directly from observation, using vessels and flora that carry personal meaning and connections to people, places, and times.
The plants came from my own garden and the land around our property. I’ve always loved the beautiful winter light in that studio, and creating this series became both a celebration and a farewell. Time was short, so I worked in smaller formats—A4 and A3—which proved a rewarding challenge, offering a more intimate scale for exploration.
This piece features a bottle made by Jonny Northcote in Bermuda. Originally used for local honey, these bottles were sold as charming mementos of the island. The Thai basil was grown from a cutting given to me by my friend Jill, a keen gardener who has shared many treasured plants with me. My time in Thailand—as a backpacker and later with my family—left me with a deep love for the country and its food, making this pairing of objects and plants a rich tapestry of memory and place.