My work is inspired by the need for original thought in a mad, sad world. It turns out that my main focus is questions of goodness. What is it? How do we truly and authentically achieve it? Do we need it? Why? Who has it? How did they get it? What is it for? What does it mean? I love these questions and this issue.

I place the conceptual expressions of my thinking within two domains: 3D sculpture as modern, conceptual message and 2D drawings as poetic reflections of the state of things. Therapy and its methods, as a way to be free, is something that I think about a lot. I want my art to hold, in evidence of the need of therapy, this call for the viewer.

Juxtaposed with this is a silent type of work that could be called artisanal. I think I would prefer us to consider it as contemplative. It doesn’t mean anything other than silence, which, having written a book (Silence in Schools, 2012, IoE Press, o/p, but find on archive.org), I know is itself a huge and underrated profound domain of consciousness. The beauty of silence never fails to amaze and touch me. I hope my work can bring you into its presence.

I am enamoured with certain elements of Renaissance Florence (I live just outside Florence). Luca and Andrea Della Robbia and Masaccio in particular are my favourites. Inspired by them I do no want to be in any way derivative or stuck on them. I want to say something modern in retaining the Renaissance standard of beauty I admire in their achievements. This artisanal looking work is expressed most often in bas relief “bucchero” - a kind of Etruscan pottery with an entirely black fired clay body, caused by a lack of oxygen in the firing process.

Having said all this I cannot help but note that I get into all kinds of things artistically, always looking for that feeling of mystery…

I was a teacher in schools, prisons, hospital, pupil referral units and always aware the school system was in trouble. This led me to start a PhD in alternative education philosophy, which led to a ten year career as an academic. I got out of universities when I moved to Italy in 2019 and saw a chance to pursue art full time. A slow but beautiful road from that strangled conversation with my parents, aged 17, asking to go to art school, instead of Durham University. I’m so glad of the winding, interesting road I took, but I’m even more glad to be here now.

I am an emergent professional artist, at the point of being in the public domain with seriousness and intent to communicate with a public. I’m definitely in the mood for your thoughts and feedback. If you are interested in what I do, get in touch? I’d absolutely love to hear from you and hear what you think of my work. Thanks for being here and reading about me. Have a great day!