‘Cohabit’ explores the inextricable link between the natural and built environment, whilst highlighting the impact we have as a society. Painted for UpFest 2024

Throughout history mankind has had a spatial and spiritual relationship with the natural world, but in recent times this relationship has been dramatically severed. The structures we've built reveal much about our natural environment, as well as expressing the artistic sensibility of a place, its history and meaning. Nature shapes the way we build our society, so the way we build shapes the wellbeing of its inhabitants. When designing my work I start by researching the nature, architecture, and history within the place I am painting in. I then disassemble the images and research into a digital collage that becomes the idea for the painting.

The main subject, a fox stands strong traversing the chaos suggest by barren landscape. Foxes are one of Britain’s most popular mammals living amongst natural and urban environments. ‘Cohabit’ juxtaposes sharp detail with bold colours and chaotic forms aiming to hover between realism and abstraction, whilst reinventing traditional methods of painting.

The black and white squares, once used by the Egyptians as a symbol of good and evil in humanity, have become a strong recurring symbol in my work. I use these squares to highlight how society is constantly struggling to reach a place of harmony, peace and how good and evil continues to coexist. All these ideas come together to create a narrative that is vivid yet strange, mysterious, and atmospheric. Through the use of collage I aim to shift the perspective and balance of the composition. The use of fragmentation forces the audience to stop and take time to view the work; to ponder its deeper meaning. My mural provokes people to think about the different perspective and views we hold in our own lives. ‘Cohabit’ attempts to hold a mirror up to our actions and confront the good and evil within human nature.