Charon by the river Styx 2018-19
Charon by the river Styx was based on the death of my mum and associations of death and transition. The figure in orange represents Charon the ferryman who transports the dead to the afterlife.
The small female figure behind him represents my mum. I have placed her behind the "barrier" of the blue and navy striped fence. The flowers above her head symbolize death and a life that has withered away.
Stand Your Ground 2018
Stand Your Ground is essentially a painting about searching for the unattainable. It is based on personal feelings of despondency and a reference to my interest in Greek mythology.
I was always intrigued by the image and the physical effort endured by "Sisyphus" the mythological king of Corinth as he persistently struggled with his burden to ascend a hill, only to have his hopes consistently dashed as each stone was destined to roll down every time he reached the top.
When Fools Crow 2018
The main theme of When Fools Crow is opportunities lost. This image was an experiment with painting in a much more realistic style. The pharaoh is actually a female character inspired by Caravaggio's "Judith Beheading Holofernes". I've given her an Egyptian Headress as a reference to my time living in Cairo and my general interest in Ancient Egypt.
I've included Tyrion from Game of Thrones because I like his defiant pose and confrontational glance. I would like to make more references to my personal interests in my artwork, and this piece was an experiment in using a character from popular culture to see how this would affect or shake up the general equilibrium of the piece.
The Essential Dilemma 2017-19
The Essential Dilemma is a painting about contemplation. The figures have been placed within a beach setting to suggest an atmosphere of fun or tranquility to mask the underlying story.
Each figure is rooted to the spot, with eyes shut to represent the idea of being unwilling to see what's happening in front of them, with the suggestion of them having reluctance or the fear of moving forward physically or emotionally.
Carry Her Gently 2017-19
Inspired by the Scottish singer Sheila Stewart's facial expression from a scene in a documentary. I decided to transform her into one of my own characters an Egyptian priestess. This was to reflect her noble countenance "in the moment" and devotion to her life's work. The painting is loosely based on aspects of Dante's inferno and notions of the afterlife.
Where Shall I Find You?
Charon by the River Styx
Sisyphus
When Fools Crow
The Essential Dilemma
Carry Her Gently
Unit 7A
Albion Business Centre
78 Albion Road,
Edinburgh EH7 5QZ