stories from africa

I have long been a fan of narrative paintings, probably after a visit with my mother to the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh when I was 10 years old. There, Paul Gaugin’s “Vision After the Sermon” from 1888 was suitably ambiguous to get me wondering about what on earth could be happening. In my head a fantastical story narrated as I looked at the disparate components. Even more strange, perhaps because of it monotone sparseness, was “The Skating Minister” by Henry Raeburn in the 1790s. Who was this black-clad figure on ice skates wearing a top hat? Years later I created my own series of ambiguous narratives, re-inspired by the likes of Luc Tuymans and Neo Rauch. I used old photographs of my own, or collaged images of others, often using the motif of a light aircraft for commonality.

Zambezi 2006 oil on canvas 75x100cm

Aeronautical Nocturne 2007 oil on canvas 100x75cm

Preflight 2007 oil on canvas 90x60cm

Ultimatum 2006 oil on canvas 75x100cm

Poached 2006 oil on canvas 85x100cm

Missionaries and Mercenaries 2006 oil on canvas 90x100cm

figure in context

The National Art School insisted on many months of life drawing, and the challenges of drawing the human figure will never be exhausted. I like to convey the figure within the space it occupies, with the context relating the model to the edges of the canvas or paper as well as hinting at a broader story beyond those borders.

Burnt Sienna Chair 2010 oil on canvas 60x45cm

Figure 2010 oil on canvas 60x45cm

Figure Standing 2010 oil on canvas 60x45cm

Figure Reaching 2010 oil on canvas 60x45cm

Figure With Tall Windows 2008 oil on canvas 70x50cm

Figure and Black Chair 2008 oil on canvas 70x 50cm

HUNTERSCAPE

Westbrook Hunter Valley 2008 oil on canvas 85x100cm