Breath of the Golden Forest, 2026

Over the moorlands on the edges of Yorkshire there are forests of birch trees, which form endless inspiration for my work as an artist. Also looking at the work of Gustav Klimt has influenced my handling of materials for this interpretation of a birch wood. In this painting celebrating nature, sunlight plays through copper and amber leaves creating dappled light, while the shadows contrast with the bright tones of the light birch trees. A tapestry of optimism and colour emerges, reminiscent of fresh woodland breezes and golden leaves.

An original artwork, one-of-a-kind, this painting has been created with high-quality acrylic paints on deep-edged canvas. I begin with observation of the place, making notes and taking photographs to work from in the studio. From these beginnings, I work intuitively, painting some base layers with a brush and then applying impasto techniques layer on layer with a palette knife, harnessing optical mixing techniques employed by the Impressionists. I continue working until the painting reaches a natural conclusion, resulting in a contemporary painting which lies between abstraction and realism. The painting continues round the sides; a frame is not needed and it is ready to hang.