Sketching in the Quiraing, Isle of Skye
About the Artist
“I feel an overwhelming sense of fulfilment, working from the observations I make in nature, sketching in pencil, watercolour and oils recreating something new from the imagination deep inside me whilst being inspired by nature´s beauty. I enjoy working with a variety of materials and media which in turn trigger new observations and ideas.”
After reading History of Art in Western Art and Architecture (M.A.) at the University of Utrecht (1986-1992), with an M.A. thesis on the painting technique of Paul Signac (‘Link in the development of Impressionism to Fauvism’), I followed the path of Conservation and studied at the Department of Conservation of Easel Paintings at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London (1992-1995).
I have worked as a restorer in the Conservation departments of the National Gallery in Washington, the Mauritshuis in The Hague, the Hamilton Kerr Institute in Whittlesford (Cambridge) and the Royal Collection in Windsor, before devoting myself fully to my own artwork.
In 2002 I decided initially to take a sabbatical and started exploring different techniques and methods, such as etching and monoprinting and found I could build on my extensive knowledge of materials and made the choice to follow the path of my heart.
My work ranges from simple line drawings and watercolours to etchings, monoprints and oils, depicting landscapes, places and situations encountered on my travels, with a great passion for the Scottish Isles and more recently the lowlands of Holland.
“Watching the weather patterns of light and shade shift across the clouds, the sea and the land and allowing these elements to dictate my movements and mark-making is the most inspiring experience. I enjoy the pleasure and urgency of painting on site. In here, I sense the fragility of the landscapes and attempt to relate them to their place in the Greater Plan.”