artist statement

We create art shaped by our characters, our experiences and our view of the world. The stories behind the capture of my images are as important as the image itself. It is this human element that I am increasingly exploring in my work. 

My fascination with light and time originates from a science background. Twenty years ago, I explored their interaction in Yorkshire seascapes, mastering long exposures to simplify a scene. When applied to cities, I discovered long exposures intensify the colours and minimise transient changes such as cloud and water movements, allowing the sole focus to be on the fixed lines of manmade structures. Using natural lighting from the sky and the reflected light off water in the foreground I can frame my chosen subject, these lines of manmade structures. My aim is to capture that aesthetic balance of nature’s own lighting and artificial lighting during the narrow window at dawn or dusk.

An artist’s work reflects their personality with individual characteristics identifiable in their work. I chose cities as my subject for a variety of reasons, including having the opportunity to photograph well-known locations at any time of the day or night, which were recognisable and more appealing. But I believe the core attraction to cities was already present in my subconscious. I am a perfectionist, going to great lengths to ensure images are aesthetically pleasing, timeless, sharp and clean. I am an observer, walking great distances around cities so I can find the perfect viewpoint. I am patient, standing in one location for several hours waiting for the ideal weather and lighting conditions to capture the image. I am a scientist, always searching for patterns and symmetry whilst looking to simplify the view. I am competitive, driving me to capture the best image from a location. I am a thinker, spending hours waiting to take long exposures which has led to developing new, more obscure ideas, which I am currently pursuing.

In addition to photographing new skylines in new cities, I am currently working on specific projects including London: Longer Exposures, which combines images of London taken months or years apart. Not only does this update and complete skylines under construction, but it also allows me to print sharp images to much greater sizes. A few more abstract pieces are also under development, which explore both the human element in the creation of artwork and my observations on human society today. It is only through recording ideas that we can pass on knowledge to the next generation. As a thinker and a visual artist, I have a unique opportunity to accomplish this.