I spent a lot of time outdoors as a child, often found pond swishing in the local river or poking my nose into hedges rummaging for natural treasures. As an adult I am equally fascinated by nature and now channel this passion through creative endeavour.

I spend as much time as I can outdoors

As a visual artist I spend many hours outdoors with my thoughts turned toward a human and more-than-human connection. I explore this interconnectedness through material agency and embodied practice as I consider the ecology of my local landscape, scrutiny in both micro and macro, whilst physicality, materiality and agency are of similar importance in my creative practice. By exploiting all of our human senses, and through a direct manipulation of the material, I build a visual response encompassing the ephemerality of the natural world. Systematic research of materialism, accompanied by anthropological considerations feeds into my creative processes, leading to results considerate of an environmental biocultural relationship.

My practice begins with foraged organic materials from which I make my own inks. It is of personal importance to develop my own natural art materials where possible, with additional considerations of the paper and cleaning materials I use, to visually express nature in my drawing and printmaking practice. I am also interested in alternative photography techniques such as soil chromatography, anthotypes and cyanotypes, which offer new ways in which to explore the connection between us and the natural world.

I vocalise my personal relationship and ongoing narrative with nature to inspire and encourage others to nurture a symbiotic relationship with nature. The natural world is of vital importance to our health and wellbeing as well as the preservation of all species, and through my creative practice I hope to encourage a fresh approach inspiring a reduced habituation whilst also challenging stereotypical anthropocentric narratives.

Making ink from organic materials opens a path of communication with the natural world that satisfies my sense of longing and of connection with the natural world to which I belong. Such biophilia cannot be easily explained, nor taken lightly, but rather it is the sense of belonging passed down to us from our prehistoric ancestors, and one that drives my creativity.