Statement I am a self taught painter and rely largely on improvisation during the painting process to develop form. I feel compelled to paint faces. I stop painting when I can read a recognisable, fleeting emotional connection, much like we experience in life when we are concerned to observe a person's state, even if it is just at a glance. I have been painting for around 10 years. I have moved intuitively through the painting process with my style developing naturally with techniques I instinctively, and repeatedly use. I do not plan my paintings and may do 6 or 7 faces/compositions that are immediately scraped off. I will use the remnants of the marks to inspire new paintings which may or may not work. I can also produce a painting that I am happy with within an hour if that's the way it goes. The process of painting is the most important part for me, not what I end up with. I paint and draw with my left hand and pallet knife with my right. I use the fingers of both hands to paint and smudge and wipe. I use paint straight from the tube or hastily mixed with my fingers or knife on paper plates often whilst in the throws of a promising piece to maintain the energy flow. My colours are chosen in the moment and are often from the mountainous remnants from my scraping. I primarily paint in oil.