From Ebb & Flow to Go Go Go

Draft 1 & Draft 2

After nearly forty years of exhibiting in private galleries, I’ve made the decision to focus more of my energy on self-representation. For decades, I felt like an uneasy guest in the art world, celebrated here and there for a few cherry-picked works, yet never reassuringly trusted or supported. Despite having public commissions and works in collections scattered far and wide, I was never granted a solo show or the opportunity to exhibit my drawings and prints.

Over time, that lack of faith weighed heavily, impacting my self-esteem and my creative development began to suffer. It felt as though the most meaningful parts of my practice, the pieces closest to my heart, remained hidden in my studio and thoughts, alongside the hope and belief that had once fuelled me. At my lowest, I drifted in no-man’s-land, yet as with all life experience, those challenges added to the mixing pot of character and ultimately motivated positive change.

More than a decade ago, I began to see through the fog of my own confusion and reshape my creative life. I found direction again, pushing through discontent into a new way of seeing and understanding art, a journey that has been both empowering and deeply rewarding. To truly know, feel, and trust one’s creativity as a coherent gesture is the only validation an artist really needs. I still wrestle with the struggles of creating and inventing, but now I work with purpose and clarity, knowing that art must live and breathe without barriers.

Today, I’m working relentlessly to unify my body of work into a coherent and meaningful contribution I believe in. It is a solitary path, demanding immense self-belief under the weight of psychological and financial pressures. Life as an independent artist offers no safety nets; urgency and uncertainty are constant companions. Yet I hold fast to a single truth: a life in art is a worthy life, and my contribution has meaning, even if it doesn’t fit neatly into the machinery of capitalist commodification.

After years of reflection and creative evolution, I’m stepping into the next chapter of my career by launching curated selections of my work through publications. The first major step is the creation of two books, richly illustrated and deeply reflective, revealing the philosophy behind my practice and positioning my art within a broader context.

By curating my own collections, sharing them uncensored, and giving them a written voice, I aim to create the equivalent of my long-awaited retrospective solo exhibitions, delivered directly to those who care to see. These books and collections mark the launchpad for the next stage of my creative odyssey: a future built on freedom, authenticity, and the unwavering belief that art speaks most powerfully when it speaks in its own voice.

Through my creative journey, I’ve learned to embrace and absorb the full spectrum of life’s experiences, believing they enrich the texture, authenticity, and depth of art. At times, this openness can feel passive, yet it is essential: the artist must observe, absorb, and reflect to remain receptive to the realities of circumstance. For me, art is not about control or complete understanding, it is about being present to the unexpected, standing on the threshold of the new, always just a step away.”