YOUR WORK FEELS DEEPLY PERSONAL, ROOTED IN QUIET, INTIMATE MOMENTS. WHAT DRAWS YOU TO THESE SUBJECTS?

My work has always been deeply rooted in personal autobiography and I’ve always been drawn to the small, often overlooked moments that make up our emotional lives. I think of my painting practice as a visual diary in which I work through my life experiences. There’s something powerful about giving quiet emotions a visual presence. The dolls in my work allow me to project emotional states in a way that feels safe but still deeply honest.

YOU GRADUATED WITH FIRST-CLASS HONOURS IN 2021, HOW HAS YOUR PRACTICE EVOLVED SINCE LEAVING ART SCHOOL?

My practice has changed in many small ways since graduating. I believe my dolls have changed shape quite a bit as I have changed and grown significantly over time. I’ve become more deliberate with my compositional choices, and I’m allowing myself more time to sit with an idea before executing it. I think my practice is a mirror of my life, and any changes that occur are usually a direct reflection of the changes in my life. I have learned to listen more closely to my instincts, rather than making work to fit expectations.

MEMORY SEEMS TO PLAY A BIG ROLE IN YOUR WORK. HOW DO YOU APPROACH TRANSLATING MEMORIES INTO PAINT?

It tends to unfold organically. I usually start with something small like a colour, a shape or a specific attribute that I want the doll to have, and go from there. I’m less interested in the accuracy of the memory and more in capturing the emotional residue it leaves behind. It’s almost like self-portraiture, in which you try to give your image a specific look that reflects a particular moment in your life. It’s whimsical, theatrical, but still self-portraiture at its core. The dolls help me hold certain feelings at arm’s length while still honouring them. They become containers for things I can’t always express directly.

YOUR PALETTE OFTEN FEELS SOFT AND MUTED. HOW IMPORTANT IS COLOR IN CREATING THE ATMOSPHERE OF YOUR PIECES?

Colour plays a central role in my paintings - often becoming the primary focus. I love observing colour combinations in nature and often find myself spotting beautiful shades on my way to the studio. I’ve always been drawn to colour, and that fascination is consistently reflected in my paintings. Colour is my way of translating emotion or memory onto the canvas, it’s one of the few visual languages I rely on.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN 4BYSIX INVITED YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS AUCTION?

This is my second time participating in a 4BYSIX auction. I really enjoyed taking part in the one last year, so I was naturally excited to be involved again. I think 4BYSIX is a one-of-a-kind platform, and it’s always a real honour to collaborate on another meaningful project with them.

HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR WORK—WHICH IS SO INTIMATE—CONNECTING WITH A BROADER IDEA OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT?

I always hope that my pieces, although deeply intimate and autobiographical, can connect with broader audiences and have a positive impact beyond my personal experience. My art is whimsical and fairy tale-like, often intended to reconnect the viewer with their inner creative child. The themes of childhood, memory and growth are universal. I hope that people find a part of their own story in what I create.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PIECE YOU CREATED FOR THE 4BYSIX AUCTION? WHAT THEMES OR EMOTIONS WERE YOU EXPLORING?

‘The Racer’ is a cosmic-looking character, heavily inspired by the fashion futurism of the 1970s. This piece explores hope, fantasy, and magic that could lie ahead, much like the wonders of space and the cosmos which have always been an uncharted territory.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE VIEWERS WILL FEEL WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER YOUR WORK IN THIS CONTEXT?

I hope that, just like the doll in ‘The Racer’, the viewer can, for a moment, imagine themselves on the brink of a great adventure, looking ahead at something bright, exciting and completely unknown. I want the viewer to feel inspired by the limitless possibilities of the future and the imaginative worlds that art can unlock. I hope they leave with a sense of wonder and the desire to explore these possibilities further.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE VIEWERS TAKE AWAY FROM ENCOUNTERING YOUR PIECE IN THIS CONTEXT OF SOCIAL PURPOSE AND ARTISTIC SOLIDARITY?

Everything mentioned above: warmth, positivity, hope, playfulness.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO EXPLORING NEXT IN YOUR PRACTICE?

Much like ‘The Racer’, I see my future works centred around the themes of the 1970s fashion futurism. There is so much whimsy and play in the colours, shapes, and styles of that decade, and I find that it strongly resonates with where I want to take my dolls next.