Figurative work, in oils, is the mainstay of my painting. It’s always fascinated me how an image of a person or animal, a gesture or look, frozen in time, can convey so much about personality. The colours within that image, too, are important, affecting perceptions and mood.

I’ve been painting since childhood, mostly untaught, although in these days of the internet, I’ve absorbed valuable lessons from artists who are masterly teachers online.

Many of my paintings are based on photos I’ve taken. My travels have taken me to many lands, visiting little-known cultures who still live in traditional ways and areas where wildlife still flourishes.

With the natural world and marginalised peoples ever more under threat, my work has become homage. I feel a sense of ambassadorship to highlight this sacred beauty to a world that so often overlooks what is truly important, in favour of what is useful to our exploitative culture.