1. When you were young, what job did you picture yourself having as an adult?
When I was little I wanted to write and illustrate my own books.
2. When did you first realise you wanted to be an artist?
I always wanted to become some type of artist.
3. Were you good at art at school?
I didn’t stand out especially at school until we got a new head of art in the 6th form. She was amazing. She shook everything up and encouraged me to do an art foundation course at Newcastle-under-Lyme College.
4. Do you remember the first exhibition you went to?
Rebecca Horn and Georgia O’Keeffe on a school A Level trip. I think it was the first time I had seen any contemporary art. Before that I had been hugely influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites.
5. Which artist do you most admire?
Joan Mitchell.
6. Which talent of hers do you covet?
Scale and boldness of expression.
7. If you could own any one painting in history, which would it be?
Such a hard question. I think I will say Mountains and Sea by Helen Frankenthaler. She had such a huge impact on my painting practice when I was at university. I have always loved the abstract expressionists and I admire how Joan Mitchell and Helen Frankenthaler fought for their place in what was as a very masculine movement.
8. What’s the best exhibition you’ve seen recently and why?
I haven’t actually been to it yet, but I really want to go and see the Tracey Emin: A Second Life at the Tate Modern. I think she’s incredible.
9. Is there one place that’s had a decisive influence on your work and if so in what way?
I went on a trip to the Arctic about 15 years ago and this had a huge influence on my painting. I think ever since I have been trying to portray the beauty and fragility of our natural world.
10. Where in the world would you like to spend six months making your art?
I would love to go to Brazil and see the Amazon Rainforest.
11. What subjects are you always drawn to in your work?
My paintings are usually part imagined or remembered landscapes. They represent glimpses of place from photographs and sketches. They are largely automatic and spontaneous, allowing the paint to do its own thing, but they always have a start or end point in nature.
12. Which colour do you find yourself using in your work more frequently than others? Is there a reason why?
I think I’m best known for my blues. This probably began after my trip to the Arctic; the turquoise in the ice was just stunning. More recently though I’ve been painting trees and I’m finding myself increasingly drawn to greens. Green is a really tricky colour to use, but if you get it right, it’s delicious.
13. How often do you create a new picture, on average?
I usually produce work in a series and work on more than one painting at a time. It’s really difficult to say as some paintings come together fairly quickly. Others I can be working on for years. On average I would say that it takes me about six weeks to produce about six paintings.
14. What’s your studio like?
Messy and too small, but I love it. It has amazing light and I’m surrounded by so many talented, lovely people. It’s my haven.
15. How do you relax?
Gardening, reading and friends.
16. What’s your most treasured possession?
I don’t really care about possessions. Maybe my paddleboard!
17. What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
Quality wine.
18. If you could go back in time, when and where would you go?
The 60s, I think. It seems that it was a positive time in history; everything was blooming.
19. What plans do you have to develop your art?
I have just finished a new series of mini forests and I want to develop them and make them really huge and abstract. I’m really excited about it.
20. How would you like to be remembered?
For kindness, definitely.
