Welcome to my world.
Art is to be seen and shared and appreciated, and at its best it elevates, inspires and communicates through mind and heart and soul.
I work as an artist in Kingston, Jamaica, painting in oils, watercolors and acrylics. I paint murals on commission, with many large-scale pieces around the island of Jamaica. My studio is my veranda overlooking a small city garden and surrounded by trees and bird song; my hope is that every painting emits a feeling of the harmony, balance and peace found in Nature, regardless of its size or medium.
Over a decade ago I won a national competition to create a piece of art for the then newly-expanded Donald Sangster airport in Montego Bay; the result it an 80’ mural with cameos of Jamaican life that welcomes travelers in the main Arrivals corridor, giving them a taste of what Jamaica has to offer.
A 60’ diptych in Scotiabank in Mandeville celebrates the symbiotic relationship between the town and the surrounding farmlands.
Seven Starbucks cafes across the island feature a variety of murals; a 40’ mural in Kingston and a 20’ mural in Montego Bay celebrate the great achievements of Jamaica in music and sports, paying homage to the rich culture of this vibrant Caribbean island; others display tropical flora and fauna.
The most recent mural in Kingston features a 32’ mural in Cafe Blue that is a journey into the magical and majestic Blue Mountains, home of the world-famous coffee, while the back of the cafe draws the viewer into an illustrated narrative of the history of coffee.
The way paint takes a life of its own, its marks and tones and effects becomes a language of its own, and my main challenge is to maintain a feeling of freshness and spontaneity within the framework of a recognizable form or scene. Somewhere between accurate drawing and loose brushwork, between sensitivity and spontaneity, between cool tones and vibrant colour is a place of balance.
When I’m not painting my own work I’m teaching art, running the popular ‘Young at Art’ art education program, which I’ve been doing for over three decades, working with young and old alike; all students are young at heart. For the last 10 years my students’ work is compiled into a beautiful annual calendar which we sell to raise funds for Food for the Poor, a far-reaching charity that helps the very needy. To date our partnership has built 20 houses and contributed to hospitals and other worthwhile projects.
Sharing a delight in art is an ongoing passion for me, so whether it’s through my own artwork or through my art classes, to be an agent for the exciting adventure that art is is something I feel very privileged to be doing with my life.