Artist's Statement

"I suppose I inherited my aptitude for art from my late mother, who was a head artist with 'Royal Worcester Porcelain'.

From an early age I would spend long periods in seclusion, painting and drawing. For many of my peers, this behaviour was attributed to introversion.

I maintained my interest in art throughout my education, and my first job was as a retailer of fine art materials. This provided me with an extensive working knowledge of the materials and processes available to artists.

I have had some work exhibited with ‘Warstone & Turner’ art gallery, but I have mostly restricted my art production to commissions for friends, acquaintances and for my own enjoyment.

In May 2002 a mutual friend showed some of my early work to an interior design/mural company, named ‘Shades of Light’, at which point I became their head artist. This in turn, generated interest in my private work and consequently I decided to exhibit in the public domain."

Creative Process

"I often feel the need to create abstract art without complexity, using basic shapes and simple designs.

I believe that a painting of this type should contain only the elements necessary to achieve structure and balance. The resulting forms and structures constitute the attributes of a painting that are primarily responsible for making my artworks both harmonious and environmentally enhancing.

My use of organic free-flowing shapes and bright colours implies a sense of movement and energy. This gives contrast to the static structural elements of my paintings, but does not overwhelm them. I intend this to provide a ‘nature like’ ephemeral dynamic."

Influences

"My artistic interests lie in the Bauhaus & De Stijl movements of the 1920's. The pioneering design and art of Gerrit Rietveld and Wassily Kandinsky has made a great impression on me, whilst my favourite contemporary work is that of Andy Goldsworthy."

James Sheriff