I’m a figurative painter with a focus on the natural world and the influence of human activity upon that world. My love of figurative art stems from a desire to evoke empathy, compassion, empowerment, to elevate those who may not typically find themselves subjects on gallery and museum walls, to examine sentience and earth-based spiritual practices such as animism, and to convey the interconnectedness of all living beings on the planet. I choose to paint girls and women, as from the beginning- and continuing into the present time — they have been at the forefront of the environmental and animal rights movements. I choose to paint young people, as they will inherit the planet we leave them. They are also among the strongest and most influential voices in environmental activism today. I like to think of my paintings as ‘portraits of the future’ — the subjects of my paintings will be impacted in the future by the decisions and choices made now. For much of my life I’ve been a professional theatre actor, which instilled in me an appreciation for the power of story, for the diversity of human expression and experience, and for the power of empathy — imagining worlds unlike my own. This artistic practice informs my work as a painter. My passion lies in painting others — both human and non-human animals — and their worlds. I feel compelled to make art that asks us to consider how we move through the world, what we consume, how we use the land, and how we treat our fellow species. “I do have reasons for hope: our clever brains, the resilience of nature, the indomitable human spirit, and above all, the commitment of young people when they’re empowered to take action.” — Dr. Jane Goodall