Artist Statement

 

My practice investigates the ever-changing connection between plants and humans and their struggle to coexist. Through my practice based research, I seek to understand the value and representation of plants in British culture and the influences of those representations on my relationship and identification with nature. In gaining an understanding of plant representation gathered from sources such as; the Art Works for Change movement, The Natural History Museum, Shirley Sherwood’s Botanical Illustration Collection, Animations, Attenborough's Wildlife documentaries and well known monotheistic and mythological stories. 

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My work both reflects common cultural narratives depicting the urgent threat of plant extinction due to exploitation, and begins to move into forming my own narrative. A narrative which imagines a world where anthropomorphic plants are celebrated, dominate and reclaim urban landscapes. In an attempt to rebalance and green up the world we live in. Many of my works are influenced by plant evolution, the art of story telling, and the imaginative worlds created in surrealist paintings and fiction. 

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In my work, I aim to help viewers face the reality of environmental issues in a palatable way and promote a new narrative of hope that inspire others too green up their environment.  I use traditional art techniques to craft narratives and explore current issues regarding species and habitat loss, using materials such as: multimedia collage; ink and charcoal drawings; and a variety of prints. Many of these materials and processes are combined to create stop motion animations which have brought my research and imagined worlds to life.