Medina Sidonia

Medina Sidonia depicts the whitewashed hilltop village of Medina Sidonia in Andalusia, southern Spain. The painting focuses on the strong Mediterranean light falling across the buildings, creating a simple interplay of white walls, deep blue shadow and terracotta roofs beneath an intense blue sky.

Rather than attempting to record the village in detail, I have reduced the scene to its essential forms and relationships. The small figure on the balcony provides a sense of scale and human presence within the architecture, while the strong geometric structure gives the painting a sense of stillness and clarity.

The work began as an exploration of a familiar and conventionally picturesque Andalusian subject, approached through my interest in light, space and reduction.

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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.