The Winter Still Lifes series marks a seasonal shift in my practice, transitioning from expansive, colour-driven landscapes towards an intimate exploration of form, space, and quietude. Prompted by the fleeting, muted quality of Scottish winter light, where natural colour is dramatically reduced, these works pivot away from vibrant hue to focus predominantly on tone, value, and subtle shifts in luminosity.

Working within the studio during the darkest months of the year, I isolate everyday objects against minimalist compositions. The paintings examine how low-angled northern light falls across surface textures, offering a contemplative meditation on structure and atmosphere, capturing the stillness of the season through a restrained pictorial language.

B L O G  L I N K S

When I paint these objects I become steeped in their story; every tiniest twist of their making, so they become alive for me. “Is a river alive?” asks the author Robert MacFarlane in his latest book. It’s a question that would have struck the 14th century mind as odd, because they believed everything was alive … January Still Lifes