ABOUT DERBY

Biography

I was born in Michigan in 1955, with Scots blood on both sides of the family. I inherited a healthy disrespect for hypocrisy from my father, a love of colour from my mother and a love of all arts from my grandmother and great aunt. Unlike most contemporary Scottish artists, I grew up in the States, and my work and the spirit behind my painting are informed and enriched by the north woods, and Native American sensitivity and kinship to nature.

I was educated in both the USA and the UK., and gained a BA Hons. in 1977 in Fine Arts, Cinema and Theatre. I went on to do a Post-graduate Certificate in Film & Television from Middlesex Polytechnic. Later, I did further post-graduate work in Training and Development, and Psychology.

My career has reflected my interests in fine art, communications, people and the subtle spirit that motivates and sustains us. The diversity of positions that I have held enabled me to develop a unique perspective, and indirectly informs me as an artist.

Influences and Inspiration

Water and sky have always spoken to me. The never ending lightshow that fills the heavens is a constant inspiration and brings me to a place of utter bliss.

As a kid I used to row a wee dinghy into the channel in the late summer afternoons, and watch the fabulous display of sun and wave, cloud and awe inspiring colour.

I have never tired of watching the sea and sky and never will.

At one and the same time they make me feel so tiny as to be utterly insignificant and yet completely a part of this unimaginably wonderful universe.

Me as artist

As an artist and designer, my work was largely private commissions and somewhat sporadic in the 80s, but the building of my own studio in the mid 90s cemented my resolve to return to painting.

The 1990s was the decade I pulled it all together. It was a decade of many changes for me primary amongst the upheaval was the move to live in Scotland permanently.

I now live and work in Argyll in an old farmhouse overlooking the sea north of Oban.

Here in Scotland I have built my dream. A place where I can follow all my creative impulses as fine artist and writer. Where I can share the wealth of experiences I gained in industry by providing support and design for small businesses. And where the spiritual and healing aspects of my heart can find expression at my business, Ashwhin Balanced Living Centre and Personal Retreat.

About my artwork

Balance has been a goal for me for all my life, and it is fabulous to come to a place where I can use all my skills and knowledge - something completely impossible in the normal workplace. My healing and self development inform me as an artist. My joy in creating and capturing beauty deepens my potential for inspiring people to move with the flow of the universe and be free from society's expectations and constraints

Rediscovering myself as an artist is the most astonishing experience. I feel like I can now understand the “zone” that fine athlete’s describe when they are at the peak of performance and are somehow lifted out of themselves.

At the moment I feel rather like a pressure cooker that has had the steam let out just before I exploded. The nature of my work seems to be changing and developing piece by piece. I don’t know where it will lead me, but I know its where I must go.

Techniques

I use several mediums - oils, acrylics, soft pastels and I also enjoy mixing media. The textures and qualities of each influences my mood and the speed at which I work, so each illuminates a slightly different aspect of me.

Oils always remind me of my grandmother. For all the years that I knew her, her basement studio smelled of linseed oil and turpentine. Descending into her magical space, on the third step down into the studio, the scent met me. I feel her presence particularly when I use oil paints, and the process is for me more languid and reflective than working with other media.

Acrylics have always been my favourite, and I have grown comfortable with the medium, but lately I have been completely captured by the magic of soft pastels. For me pastels are the perfect medium for catching light and shadow, sunset and cloud, the softness and contrast of colours that makes Scotland the most beautiful place I have even known.

I will always experiment and keep pushing my boundaries, exploring the potential of mixing media and challenging myself so that while my style develops I do not fall into a habit of work that would dampen the energy or muddy the flow of creativity.

Methods

I love the romantic idea of drawing from the living landscape, and enjoy doing so when I can. But, practically speaking, I find that I am far more able to catch moments of sublime light and shadow play best by quick sketches and photos that I take back to my nice warm studio to develop into finished pieces.

My Motivation

I love to remember that each and every one of us contains stardust. Anything is possible.

Humans are so often driven by fear, fear of the unknown, fear of living life to the fullest, fear of succeeding and therefore being very visible. We all can be subject to fears that hold us down.

But I have found that it is a simple matter to slow down and learn to live to a natural rhythm, and when that happens, amazing things unfold - nearly effortlessly and often unexpectedly.

Life (and of course art) is about discovery, challenging the boundaries, going further and evolving. There are no boundaries between life, art, spirit and the unconditional love that binds us with light, laughter and joy.

I shall spend my life trying to embrace the beauty, create reflection of the magnificence and live as best I can.