My practice as an oil painter blends the exploration of portraiture with imagery borrowed and reworked from examples of medieval art, architecture and manuscripts. By analysing colour language and forms used throughout the Middle Ages, I create contemporary interpretations in order to establish an anachronistic approach to portraiture.

For the final painting of my MA course, I chose to create my first self-portrait as a natural progression in my developing portraiture practice. My final composition is self-confrontational and depicts a surreal landscape evocative of the historical influences that inform my practice. The figures in my final piece stand at Sham Castle, a landmark overlooking the city of Bath from Claverton Down. Built as a decorative imitation of a traditional castle, the structure reflects my methodology in borrowing imagery from the past transformed into an ethereally surreal landscape. Referencing motifs and to influential paintings, my final piece is a reflection of my development as a painter.