The Inspiration for my work, comes from a long standing fascination with Animals,
Archeology, History, Anthropology, Ancient Art, how do people relate to animals
and the world about them the ebb and flow of the seasons, how people have always
used certain symbols to express feelings, basic creative energy, symbolism and
how we use it.
Living here in the highlands nearly all my life I developed a passion for Pictish and Celtic art. The most inspiring and enduring images for me are the tattoos found on the 'Ice Maiden', a 2000 year old 'Pazryrk' mummy, found in the Altai region of Siberia. There was also a male mummy found in the 50's. The tattoos are swirling leaping animals, The stag in particular, has been a major influence on my work. These designs have become so much part of me that I have re-designed them as my own tattoos. A major ambition/ dream is to travel to The Altai Region myself, and explore this area, the similarities between Scythian & Celtic /Pictish art and work out why it resonates so much with me. I also love Pre-Raphaelite Art, folklore, fairy stories, myth & legend, tribal lore & lifestyles, I get lost for days in museums, have a giant comic collection and get very excited about piles of rocks. Accessibility is important to me, Art which engages not-alienates real people. |
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