Miami, FL
From growing up in dreary UK skies to currently living amongst bursting Miami colors, I’m constantly amazed by any new experience or environment and those visceral feelings that soon become illustrative nostalgia.
My family and I live in Coconut Grove, and one of the first encounters with the ‘locals’ was actually a peacock. Like me, they are not originally part of the Florida ecosystem; instead they were introduced by locals, and me, by my wife.
So, it was only fitting that one of my pieces is a beautiful peacock. As a screenprinter, I’m drawn to it for its obvious visual complexity; the layered feathers, shifting iridescence and repetitive patterns.
These creatures reflect the way people build and present their identities. They can be both confident and protected – a contradiction that sits deeply with me. This bird balances both authenticity and performance.
My creative process begins with observational sketches and photographic images, which I break down into layers of color, texture, and lines. I’m intrigued by the challenge of translating the bird’s detailed features into vibrant flat layers of ink. The whole process challenges me what to simplify, what to exaggerate, and what to let remain imperfect. The process of pulling ink through the screens and building color one layer at a time will never cease to excite me. I love to see my deliberate choices come to life.
Color is key to my process. I mix all my inks by hand, experimenting with opacity, transparency, and overlays to create iridescence and depth. The peacock’s rainbow palette becomes a subtle tribute to Coconut Grove’s Bahamian roots, a place defined by bold expression and unconventional spirit.
My prints not only celebrate regional beauty but encompasses an eternal state of sunshine that can be experienced or relived anywhere.
