ARTISTS STATEMENT

The starting point for my work is myself. I look at the world from within my body; when the world looks back at me, I am seen through my body, which happens to be female.

Until I had children, I thought this body belonged to me. The transformation that women go through in pregnancy is mind-boggling. I documented my first pregnancy in the form of four life-size oil paintings. Then I didn't paint for five years: children take over our time as well as our bodies.

The female nude has been depicted in art for as long as humans have been depicting things. I am fascinated by the different ways that women's bodies are used in art, especially the differences between images made by male and female artists. The notion of 'shame', which has been connected with the female body in particular, is something I would strive to challenge in my work.

I have been working mainly in oil on linen or wood, as well as some drawing. My work in progress also incorporates some larger scale installation pieces and sculptural work using fabric and other materials.