natures way of helping me remember

current project

Following the completion of my Fine Art degree, I have found myself returning to a subject that has always felt instinctive and meaningful to me: animals. Throughout my life, animals have been a source of comfort, fascination, and connection, and this project marks the beginning of a deeper exploration into how these relationships can be expressed through painting.

As I navigate the transition from university and begin to define my artistic practice independently, I am asking myself what I truly want to paint. Rather than focusing on a predetermined concept, this project has emerged from a genuine desire to reconnect with the subjects that have consistently inspired me. Animals have always appeared throughout my sketchbooks and creative work, and I am now exploring how they can become vehicles for expressing emotion, memory, and personal experience.

The project reflects on moments throughout my life where I have felt a profound connection to animals, whether through encounters in nature, relationships with pets, or experiences that have shaped my understanding of companionship, vulnerability, and belonging. These memories form the starting point for a series of paintings that seek to capture not only the physical presence of animals but also the emotional significance they hold.

My process begins with observational drawing and experimentation in sketchbooks, where I explore a variety of species, forms, and mark-making approaches. Through drawing, I investigate the unique character and movement of different animals while developing compositions that balance representation with expression. These studies then inform larger paintings, allowing me to experiment with colour, texture, and gesture to create works that feel both personal and emotionally resonant.

Ultimately, this project is an exploration of how animals can act as mirrors for human experience. Through expressive painting, I aim to create works that celebrate these connections and invite viewers to reflect on their own relationships with the natural world.

Sketches