I believe that a large part of abstract painting is problem solving. Thirty years as an advertising art/creative director defines my process; a journey through a number of possible ideas, until one finally reveals its potential. I start each painting with large, loose areas of colour, slowly defining the shapes and values by building textured layers, each with more detail than the previous. This process reflects the way advertising layouts are developed where additions or changes in in any part of the work has an impact on the all the others, and solving one design problem often creates others, until a balanced result is finally achieved.

I am influenced by the places I’ve lived and worked – South Africa, Saudi Arabia and England – attempting to capture the colours, textures, architecture and social complexities of these places. I work in acrylics on a variety of grounds, my preference being hot-pressed watercolour paper, which is slightly absorbent, but allows the paint to be moved over the surface with relative ease.