SURREAL PORTRAITS
My surreal portraits combine realistic portraiture with dreamlike imagery, symbolism, and elements drawn from nature and the imagination. I am interested in the ways a portrait can communicate more than a person’s physical appearance, becoming a window into emotion, memory, identity, and the experiences that shape us.
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Many of my paintings begin with the human figure, particularly the female form, and develop into imagined scenes where reality and fantasy overlap. Flowers, animals, masks, objects, and natural elements often become visual symbols, allowing me to explore ideas that can be difficult to express through words alone. I am drawn to the contrast between the familiar and the strange, creating imagery that feels simultaneously recognizable and otherworldly.
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Through detailed watercolour painting and carefully constructed compositions, I create portraits that invite the viewer to look beyond the surface. Rather than providing a single interpretation, I hope each work leaves room for personal connection, curiosity, and storytelling.
THE KEEPER SERIES
This body of work explores themes of loss, memory, and healing. Created during a time of grief and transition, the series has become a way for me to process emotions and reconnect with painting as a form of therapy.
The Keeper first emerged from sketches I nearly discarded—experiments without expectation that gradually revealed something deeper. She is not just a character, but a symbol of the hidden aspects we all carry: the unsaid words, the tucked-away memories, the quiet griefs we keep to ourselves. She serves as a guardian of those inner truths, holding them safe until we are ready to face them.
Through this series, I’ve been reflecting on the parts of ourselves that remain unspoken, and how even the quietest, most tender feelings hold their own strength. The Keeper reminds me to honor these hidden spaces and to see vulnerability as its own form of resilience.
At its heart, this work invites viewers to consider their own keepers—the inner guardians of dreams, sorrows, and joys—and to embrace the role of art as a space for self-discovery and healing.
BOTANICAL PAINTING
My botanical paintings are an ongoing exploration of the beauty, structure, and individuality of plants. Working primarily in watercolour, I enjoy slowing down and closely observing leaves, flowers, patterns, colour variations, and the small details that can easily be overlooked. My approach combines careful observation and realistic rendering with an appreciation for the unexpected colours, shapes, and character found in the natural world.
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Botanicals have become an important part of my broader artistic practice, appearing not only as subjects in their own right but also as recurring elements within my surreal portraits and other imagined worlds. Plants offer a natural connection between my interest in observation and my fascination with symbolism, storytelling, and the relationship between people and the natural environment.
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I am continuing to expand this area of my work, developing my skills through ongoing study and experimentation with different plants, compositions, and approaches to botanical painting. This exploration has also become an important part of my teaching practice. Through my botanical watercolour workshops, I share techniques for careful observation, colour mixing, layering, and creating the subtle details that bring plants to life on paper.
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For me, botanical painting is both a study of the natural world and an opportunity to pause, observe, and appreciate the extraordinary detail found in everyday plants.