I remember the endless fascination I had watching my mother draw and paint—observing how shapes, lines, and colour came together to create such beauty. It was magical to me. Could I do that? Then, on my 11th birthday I was given my first set of “serious” art supplies—paper, charcoal, and pencils. It was a historic moment to me. Coming from a large family it seems natural, looking back, that portraits were the first thing I would embark on.

My work explores my interaction with the world around me and is, in a way, a kind of documentation of the people, places, and things I encounter day to day. The interplay of light and shadow has always fascinated me. The ways in which light can envelop a subject can help to define its various qualities. More than just documenting, it can evoke a response that incorporates an intellectual, emotional, or spiritual connection - this exploration forms the basis of my work.