Lucca Streetscape 2 - 36 cm x 52 cm

Capturing the light is an important element in my paintings and I look for scenes where I can use the light in creative ways to draw in the viewers and then hold their attention.

In this painting the late afternoon sun is streaming through the trees of Lucca's promenade, warming the buildings on the left while the long shadows of the tourists slowly find their way across the foreground plane.

San Gimignano Afternoon - 36 cm x 52 cm

Nicely painted watercolours are often diminished by weak compositions; therefore starting with a strong design is paramount.

In this painting I'm reliving my visit to San G's busy piazza with crowds of tourists walking about while others find rest under the shade of café umbrellas. Fortunately the café motif is repeated throughout Italy and it is one that never goes out of style.

Rainy Day Siena - 40 cm x 30 cm

The watercolour medium's greatest virtue is its ability to allow pigment and water to play on paper, resulting in amazing colours and textures. The artist's willingness to explore with watercolour brings new insight and anticipation with each piece of paper.

In this painting my goal was to capture the melancholy mood most rainy day images evoke. The rough cobblestone streets of Siena are revealed by utilizing the distorted reflections of buildings and people walking in the rain.

The Tuscan Hills above Lucca - 30 cm x 40 cm

Unlike a detailed story told by a photograph, I look for my paintings to spark a fond memory by way of a limited number of spontaneous brushstrokes. For me, a painting best-stated is one that is understated.

In this painting I was struck by the beautiful ruggedness of the Tuscan Hills with their meandering roads leading from the bustle & noise of the city below to the pastoral serenity at the top