inspiration story

Karen came to an exhibition of mine and fell in love with a painting of clothes piled high on a

chair. Woven through the laundry pile were my children's favourite clothes. The painting wasn't available so she was thrilled when her partner gifted her a commission painting. Karen took it upon herself to gather special bags of her own children's favourite clothes to bring to the studio. I folded them high on a chair. The trim of a babys' dressing gown lay next to the rugby shirts and ties of the now grown children. I painted these threads of Karen's life and was moved by how the painting became a portrait of a family over time. Treasured items from different parts of Karen's life were bought alive through paint and now hang as a centrepiece in her home. It was such a tender and personal commission and I'm delighted to hear that Karen still loves the painting.