It fascinates me to have discovered that many Artist's share my diagnosis of Bi-Polar or 'Manic Depression' I believe my mind set is a gift, providing me with a wealth of mental images, a constant flood of ideas & perhaps an unusual view of the world.

My pieces mainly depict thoughts, feelings or ideas rather than physical people, places or things which makes it especially pleasing when one of my paintings resonates with a viewer.

Bi-polar is a double edged sword & while it provides me with a wealth of material for my art, thankfully my art provides my mind a welcome outlet.

I opened my shop in the hope that my Art would go out into the world where it would illicit a response in other people. What starts as an idea, emotion or mental image in my mind's eye may travel across the globe & provoke a reaction in the eye of its beholder. Perhaps they'll find it uplifting,inspiring or comforting or perhaps it will enable them to express something they would otherwise have struggled to communicate... Often people's interpretations of my paintings are very different from my initial intention but I believe that only ADDS to the value & success of the piece. I'm delighted whenever someone connects with my art in any way & I have received some truely heartening & moving stories of how people have responded to my work & what it means to them.

I love objects & materials steeped in history - whether a long abandoned toy, an aged book page or a scrap of cloth from a vintage dress so by utilising these finds in my work I give them a new lease of life saving them from the scrap heap & celebrating their history & the stories they must have to tell.

I capture a spark of inspiration, create a visual representation of it, weave in some historical treasures and then send them out into the world delivering beauty from my mind's eye to the eye of the beholder.

(Photography by Emma Southwell at "CrazyCows" on Etsy!)