Portraits have become somewhat of an obsession. For me, painting a portrait is a way of recording the importance of an individual in a way that celebrates them more than a throwaway selfie. Working in oils allows me to sculpt the work gradually, building upon colours and pushing the paint around until a likeness (hopefully!) appears.

I am interested in painting ‘game changers’. People who have created real change in the face of adversity and hate, and who deserve to be held up high for it. Those who have fought for others and for what they believe in so that future generations can live their true and best lives without fear of judgement or hate. Portraiture, as an artform, has historically been reserved for the rich, famous or royal, but I want to change that.

I will also be keeping an eye on our future ‘game changers’ starting with the kids in my own family. I am far more interested in capturing their faces in all their defiant, cheeky or moody glory rather than recreating the ‘perfect’ picture.