Broadening the landscape
Broadening the landscape: Finding new locations for my paintings.
For the past few years, my work has been rooted in the landscapes of the Fens. It has felt important to spend time with places that might easily be overlooked—to return to them in different seasons, under changing skies, and in shifting light. Painting the familiar has taught me that there is always something new to discover if we take the time to look closely.
This repeated observation has shaped not only my paintings but also my relationship with the place I call home. It has deepened my sense of belonging and reinforced my belief that extraordinary beauty can be found in ordinary landscapes.
As my practice continues to evolve, however, I've begun to feel the need to include other places I know well and love and allow other landscapes to inform and enrich the way I see.
Every landscape has its own rhythm and character. Its geology, weather, history and human presence leave subtle traces that reveal themselves through careful observation. Including other places and asks me to become a beginner again: to slow down, to spend time looking before painting, and to respond without relying on what I already know.
New places bring different qualities of light, unexpected colour harmonies and unfamiliar forms. They challenge my assumptions and encourage me to find fresh ways of expressing what I see. Often it is these moments of uncertainty that lead to the greatest discoveries, not only about the landscape itself but about my own process as a painter.
I hope that by widening the range of places I explore, the work itself will become richer. The paintings may depict different locations, but they will continue to be driven by the same curiosity, careful observation and emotional connection to place that have always guided my practice.
Over the coming months, I'll be travelling a little further with sketchbook and camera in hand, searching not for dramatic views or famous landmarks, but for landscapes that quietly invite contemplation. Some will become paintings, while others may simply leave an impression that resurfaces months or even years later. I aim to include places I know well and visit repeatedly starting with Derbyshire and The Peak District (the other place I call home) and also Scotland (the place I would love to call home).
I look forward to sharing these new discoveries with you and hope they encourage you to pause, look closely, and perhaps see familiar places—and unfamiliar ones—with renewed appreciation.
