Graceland

Seen from the former East German side of the Berlin Wall, a watchtower stands isolated against an intense blue sky, its small yellow structure rising above the vast dark mass of the wall and surrounding space. The painting reduces the scene to a few essential elements — colour, geometry, light and scale — allowing the watchtower to take on an almost symbolic presence.

The title reflects the idea of places that acquire a significance beyond their physical reality: destinations imagined, desired and invested with meaning, sometimes without ever quite matching the ideal created around them.

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I loved to draw and paint from a very early age. I was fascinated by the capability of artists to bring to life the world around them; to represent form, light and shade; to create three dimensions within two.

Simultaneously I was drawn to photography. From my earliest self-processed black and white prints to the sophistication of modern digital manipulation, I have always taken pictures.

In my professional life I established and ran successful creative businesses in London, Luxembourg, Malaga, Berlin and Sydney. I held senior roles in prominent design practices and advertising agencies, including the creative directorship of Europe's first online service.

More recently I taught design at universities and design schools in Sydney, Australia and Southern Spain with particular focus upon sustainable design thinking, human-centred design and developing successful design practice.

I began my career as a junior illustrator in London. It's therefore appropriate that with more time on my hands these days I should return to my first love.