The Young Elm

The Young Elm is inspired by a young elm tree growing in our garden, painted during one of those moments when the sun sits low in the sky and light begins to move across the landscape in unexpected ways.

The tree itself stands in cool shadow, its foliage and branches painted in layers of turquoise, blue and violet. Behind it, warm sunlight filters through the surrounding trees, illuminating shrubs and foliage and creating a pathway of light that leads through the painting toward a bright focal point in the middle distance.

In this work, I continued experimenting with more expressive and directional brushwork, using individual marks to create movement and draw the eye deeper into the scene. Rather than focusing on detailed realism, my aim was to capture the atmosphere of the moment—the contrast between shadow and light, the shifting colours within the landscape, and the feeling of being immersed within the garden itself.

Like many of my recent paintings, The Young Elm reflects an ongoing exploration of light, atmosphere and place, inspired by the changing character of the natural world close to home.

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I’m a Western Australian landscape artist based in Perth, creating original oil and acrylic paintings inspired by light, atmosphere and the natural world around me.

Although I always loved drawing as a child, painting became a serious part of my life much later. After years focused on work, family and competitive sport, I rediscovered creativity in the early 2000's and soon began studying oil painting at the Claremont School of Art in Perth.

Over time my work has evolved from careful observation toward a more atmospheric and expressive approach. Rather than focusing on strict realism, I’m increasingly interested in capturing the feeling of being immersed in a landscape — shifting light through trees, distant weather, quiet gardens and the changing colour of the Australian environment.

Western Australia plays a strong influence in my work, particularly the unique quality of light, native flora and open spaces that surround us.

My paintings combine layered colour, expressive brushwork and recognisable form, allowing areas of the image to soften and dissolve up close while still maintaining a strong sense of atmosphere and place.

Above all, I hope the work encourages people to pause, slow down and feel a sense of calm and connection to the landscape.