Pages from a Fictional Archive No.1

After graduating in Fine Art from Camberwell in 1989 I lectured in Art History at various colleges in and around London, as well as writing on art and architecture. Since returning to painting five years ago I have exhibited in open exhibitions such as the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and the Discerning Eye as well as various group shows and international art fairs. I have recently been selected to exhibit in East Wing Ten at the Courtauld Institute. I now work full time in my studio in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. My recent paintings of objects in bags initially arose from an interest in scale and representation; despite being depicted exactly life size, the subjects themselves present a dislocation of scale characteristic of toys and models, ranging from enlarged insects to radically miniaturised dinosaurs. The paintings themselves are on a domestic scale; they represent illusory objects on a fictional wall and are designed to inhabit a real wall in a domestic environment. The subjects are bagged and centrally placed on a pegboard or tongue and groove background in an attempt to raise questions about the context in which they are depicted: are they presented for sale; for anthropological perusal; do they offer a glimpse Graphite is a versatile and widely used medium in art, primarily known for its soft, smooth texture and the ability to create fine details, shading, and gradients. It comes in the form of pencils or sticks, with varying degrees of hardness, ranging from very soft (6B, 8B) to very hard (H, 2H). The softness or hardness of the graphite determines the darkness or lightness of the marks it produces. When used in drawing, graphite allows artists to achieve a range of effects, from precise, sharp lines to soft, velvety shading. It is often favored for its ability to create tonal depth and realistic textures, making it a popular choice for portraiture, still life, and landscape drawing. Its subtlety and versatility also make it ideal for sketching and underpainting for larger works.