This is one of those paintings. I don't want to explain too much about it - I'd much rather you projected your own meanings into it. Suffice to say, dreams are strange and fascinating things.. the royal road, as referred to by Carl Jung. A way of sorting out and processing lots of unfinished or unresolved stuff. Sometimes our dreams puzzle us. Sometimes we know exactly what they mean. Take time to let your eyes meander through the painting and delight in or be curious about the imagery. There are stories everywhere.

These still life paintings are a little bit surreal - expressive, whimsical, real and unreal. I use the teapots I've made as still life props. I like to give them a second life.
Teapots and tea always evoke comfort for me. I am Scottish, after all! I have a massive collection of them. When I make them, I like to take symbols from other paintings - dogs of course, but also birds and fish, to use as knobs. The images on the side are windows into little scenes from my day to day life. Swimming, walking, watching nature, the work.

We've had a lot of rain in Sydney recently and when you've got dogs, well, what can you do but lean into it and learn to love it. Actually, I do love the rain, and the wind, so here they are combined. Of course, there is another meaning to this painting (you know I'm just pretty pictures). Life is hard and sometimes all we can do is accept it and lean into it. I don't mean wallow in it though - It's just that if you don't let yourself feel stuff, then it's hard to heal it. There is magic in just accepting, feeling, and allowing the energy to flow through..this is how we transform and heal.

This is a painting of one of my cake pots, which I've used as a still-life prop. I have combined my love of all - dogs, stars, cakes, and most importantly the earth. When I include a dog in my images, it's not just because I like dogs. It's because I want to use a symbol that isn't a human being as "the observer". After all, we share this planet with animals and most people don't stop for a second to wonder what their experience of being here is. I make them a bit dreamlike and surreal to amuse or stimulate curiosity.

Along the local coastline at Curl Curl, you can sometimes see dogs scampering on the rocks at low tide. In that particular spot, there is the most beautiful rock pool which I like to say hello to it and the heart-shaped rock that sits in it. Sometimes I have to pinch myself that I am living in one of the big cities of the world and yet am right on the edge of wildness. The dogs are always painted in a surreal way, to enhance the dreamlike quality of the work..

There is nothing better than taking your morning tea whilst sitting looking at the waves. I can spend endless time just sitting and watching the water, especially when the surf is up. I like to add a touch of surreality to my work. After all, life is a bit surreal at times and the quirky and whimsical take it out of the humdrum. This is an interpretation of a moody morning at one of my local shorelines at Freshwater, or "Freshie" as it is colloquially known.

These were the first teapots I made as a potter. They are very quirky and have all kinds of issues, the way first teapots do - making a teapot is considered the potter's "Everest". They look simple enough, but everything has to fit the millimetre, and of course, they need to pour well! The handle must feel comfortable to hold, and the lid fits just right - plus, you have to remember to put the steam hole in. I kept the egg like one because it amused me, and call it good fortune or beginner's luck, it actually does pour very well.