I am a self taught wax and mixed media artist, who returned to my home country of New Zealand after 14 years in the UK and had begun my career there as a professional artist, far from the corporate world I knew!

I started working with acrylic and oil paints then found my speciality, working with encaustic wax. Loving the texture and immediate results of this medium of hot wax, I continue to develop it and love that it is so different and how people are so curious about it.

It is true that there aren’t many people working with hot wax (to paint with at least!) and that is another reason I enjoy it.

 

ENCAUSTIC WAX

Painting from an expressive perspective, I explore different aspects of a subject and its energy.

Working with wax adds a different dimension to working with acrylic or oil paints. Colours stay true and all of the works are made up, literally built up, of many layers. The texture has a very sensual feel, is tactile and visually three dimensional. It dries quickly so I am involved on a different level.

Even though it requires a great deal of technical control, it is personally freeing. The feeling of what I want to represent often comes through quickly.

The wax works can be vibrant and dramatic, or peaceful and calming. There is a constant exploration of balance – light and dark, feminine and masculine, emotions and the nuances of human existence. It is closely connected with the natural world (often the ocean) and this comes through particularly in the texture.

Encaustic wax is an ancient practise and is partially why I am drawn to this medium. It is also its own preservative – I don’t need to varnish it! You can check out more information about this on my Story of Encaustic Wax website page.

People are interested to know that artists such as Diego Rivera and Jasper Johns used encaustic wax.

Another love of mine, music, plays a large part in the work and is often the subject itself. Music influences the style and energy that is expressed and working intuitively, it is personally very interesting to see the journey unfold and the final result.

Commissions form a large part of my work and I very much enjoy collaborating with my clients to create something that is special to them. This is a great form of art to purchase, as it is an unusual medium and therefore highly collectable!