about/contact

about/contact

I started to draw and paint in Beijing, where I was taught traditional Chinese ink painting by the amazing master, Liu DaWei. I returned to UK, then to Hong Kong. Life in this unique city with its exciting multicultural blend of everything became a main stimulus behind my artwork, alongside my long time fascinations with the evolution of tradition and the power of storytelling, with its psychological and sociological power for both children and adults.

I studied for an MA in Children's Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art in 2018 which widened my artistic vision hugely: I’m still learning.

I find the role of animals in all forms of storytelling particularly enthralling: folktales, cultural mythologies, religious and nature beliefs, as well as within the true stories of extinct animals pitted against issues relating to the present endangered.

I am also inspired by different contemporary cultures in the regions which I’ve journeyed, and others where I’ve lived; be these mountainous, desert, or city cultures – relationships & beliefs concerning the human animal (as well as other animals).

The notion of borders — both metaphorical (the interaction between imagination and reality) and geographical – interests me a lot.

I'm a Brit, an Aussie, & I’ve Hong Kong permanent residency. I like to alternate mainly between Hong Kong & Cardiff/London, but I willingly visit family & friends in Australia – and now in Boston – whenever possible.

Collaboration:

I enjoy collaboration. If you’re a publisher/agent outside Hong Kong; or if you’d like to commission me to illustrate anything suitable; or you’d like to buy any of my work, or you might be suitable gallery that might like to represent my art; or if you’d like to ask me to visit a school for workshops (see below) or to another event to present my work, please be right in contact!

Illustration and Books for Children:

I enjoy creating non fiction and fiction illustration as picture books as well as illustrated books more broadly (wider age group). I enjoy writing as well as illustrating stories, and am happy illustrate others’ suitable texts.

The importance of biodiversity was the inspiration behind 3 of picture books that were published/reprinted by MCCM Creations, and Blacksmith Books — all written & illustrated specifically for the children of Hong Kong, and 2 of which were endorsed by WWF (Hong Kong). I still actively support the work of WWF. I’ve really enjoyed taking these stories into most of the many international schools here, and into the local schools where English is spoken — many vibrant discussions with children from all over the globe.

I love conducting workshops for children in which they discuss traditional myths, and then create their own illustrated ‘myths’, and/or discussions of endangered animals followed by fun artwork.

Some of my illustrations for mythological & religious stories relating to cultures in which I’ve lived for long periods – to be enjoyed by both children and adults – have been sold privately.

I’ve also enjoyed talking about the importance picture books more generally: book fairs, school courses. I’m a member of SCBWI in Hong Kong.

Fine Artwork – A Sense of Place:

Much of this which is now in private collections around the globe has so far concerned life in Hong Kong: traditions, & society - at work, or at leisure. Developing work explores the evolution of other cultural traditions I’ve come to know, journeys, presently the mountainous Sino-Tibetan (NW Yunnan).

I’ve enjoyed exhibiting in many group exhibitions in Hong Kong, especially at the Visual Arts Centre, TheBookshop at Museum of Art; as well as at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair; & in UK In Cambridge, Suffolk & London. I’ve also enjoyed solo exhibitions in Beijing, at the Li Hall at St John's Cathedral in Central Hong Kong., as also within my own open sunny Southside studio.

I work in collage, sometimes semi relief, printmaking, paint, sometimes digitally. I enjoy the ephemeral nature of different papers, especially Chinese xieyi paper, which I began to use back in Beijing. I love the juxtaposition of imagined and real (photographed) light and shadow, reflecting my above philosophical interests in both fiction and non fictional contemporary storytelling.