My main subject is light.

Light is absolutely necessary for life in both ways — physical and metaphorical. Every living being needs light to thrive physically. Light gives warmth that keeps us alive and lets food grow. Light helps to form vitamins and absorb other nutrients for living cells. Light gives us energy directly and regulates living cycles.

Our most cherished values and emotions —love, hope, faith, happiness, laughter, dreams—all are conveyed visually through light. Throughout all of human civilisation we have symbolised light: people light up candles while praying; the image of light piercing the darkness as the oldest metaphor of hope; the hearth fire as the warmest expression of love and care; the “radiant smile” and “face beaming with delight” that describe happiness. Light’s natural opposition to darkness made it the symbol for hope and faith beyond the fear, despair and unknown that lie in the dark.

So in my watercolour painting I capture light against dark surroundings, bright clear colours which can only exist in beams of light, compared to muted colours in shadows. I look for optical effects the light forms around me: fruit sitting on the kitchen bench, sunrise reflecting in the sea waves, light rays piercing through clouds, illuminated shop windows inviting pedestrians inside, the fireworks at night reflecting from dark water. I choose watercolour as my primary medium, working mostly with transparent pigments. This technique creates a unique effect: light particles travel through transparent layers to the surface of the white paper and bounce back, creating actual luminescence.

I aim to give my paintings a radiance that the viewer experiences as both a physical presence and an emotional state.