I originally became fascinated by the colours and textures of the surface of the earth through an amazing book called Earthwatch, published in 1981, which featured stunning satellite images of the earth seen from 570 miles high, predating Google Earth by 24 years. These satellite views and maps became regular sources for my own artwork of the time, whilst ecology and sustainability became increasing concerns.
After a career teaching art & design, this enduring interest in the downward view of the earth led me to retrain as a professional drone operator. With the authorisation of the Civil Aviation Authority I started an aerial film and photography business (http://aerialartwork.co.uk) in 2015. This business continues and I enjoy the challenge of commercial work but my main motivation has been the excitement of creating artworks from my own photographs taken at heights and angles from which no-one has ever looked before.
My new website is currently populated almost exclusively with aerial landscape photographs, as that reflects the journey I have been on over the last four years. This website launch marks a possible new direction as I return to experimenting with printmaking processes, and particularly the one I fell in love with as an art student: screen-printing.
I say “possible new direction” as I believe it is important to always work with an open mind and heart, able to recognise the new and the better, whenever it emerges. I know I am very fortunate to have few constraints on what I choose to develop and produce. However, my work has always been about the physical environment and I cannot see that changing, although I hope my ideas and output will gradually evolve and expand.
In my Fine Art degree statement in 1985 I wrote about the “lack of harmony between mankind and the natural environment throughout the world”. Although I was referring to urban spaces, I reflected upon “humans’ use and misuse of the environment”, and nature’s ability to “gradually reclaim neglected areas”. We are now in a frightening era where nature’s ability to regenerate is under threat like never before, across the whole planet.
