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The idea for these collages that make up the body of work for “Pools of Colour” originates in my studies of rock pools on the Northumbrian coast, pools full of colourful pebbles, shells and seaweed.

These compositions are not constrained by the subject. Shapes have been flattened, colours changed and intensified, in order to generate an abstract language that focuses on the energy created by contrasting colour edges.

“Pools of Colour” also refers to the watercolour washes that underlie the collages. I have
then explored ways of cutting paper, making sharp edges with scissors or ruler or softer, arbitrary edges with controlled or random tearing, which allow colour washes to show through. I use a variety of papers, some of which are quite thick and, when torn, will reveal a second layer of muted colour.

The interaction of colour and shape lies at the heart of all my work. My aim is to show the expressive potential of colour as it pushes against the boundaries set by its own shape and, through this tension, to create a dynamic abstract language.