Personal Works
Beauty and The Bees
Beauty and the Bees merges the feminine form with a vibrant world of honey, sunflowers, and busy bees, exploring themes of growth, labor, and inner sweetness. Layered honeycomb tiles, textured with resin-like paint and cascading drips, evoke the physical and emotional weight of effort—how beauty is built slowly, cell by cell, experience by experience.
The figure, painted in deep teal and blue tones, provides a calm contrast, suggesting inner stillness and spiritual richness amidst the activity of the bees. Bees symbolize feminine energy, community, and creative power, moving freely across the canvas to highlight the connection between body, nature, and purpose. Golds and oranges reinforce warmth, life, and abundance, while the sunflower atop the figure symbolizes resilience and turning toward the light.
Created with acrylics and mixed media, this was my first exploration of painting the human form with facial features. The work evolved through the process, becoming an homage to the sacred, natural feminine and a reflection of discovery within my practice.
Disce Pati
Disce Pati is a commissioned work created directly on the traditional tartan of the Duncan clan, integrating history, identity, and symbolism into the fabric itself. The deep greens, blues, and reds of the tartan serve as both backdrop and active element, representing land, resilience, and lineage.
I layered imagery of the Highlands using muted greys and whites to define mountains as a grounding place of origin. The lion and lioness, rendered in golds, browns, and blacks, represent the family’s father and mother, while softer-toned cubs signify the children and grandchildren carrying the lineage forward. The original clan emblem, along with rich reds, vibrant golden yellows, and silver armour, further reinforce the heritage and strength of the family.
The Latin phrase Disce Pati, meaning “learn to endure,” emphasizes resilience, patience, and the enduring spirit of the clan. Through this work, the tartan becomes a living narrative—an homage to ancestry, nature, and the strength found in enduring hardship.
Among the stars, I am the Moon
Among the Stars, I am the Moon is a deeply personal piece, begun last year and completed after a period of reflection and growth. Using green sueded textures, I created a layered landscape with organic movement, forming a hollow-like space that evokes peace and a sacred connection to Mother Nature.
The moon serves as a central symbol, breathing illumination across the work. It represents clarity, self-reflection, and heightened intuition, encouraging viewers to trust their inner voice. Associated with release and renewal, the full moon embodies letting go of negativity and embracing emotional cleansing. It also celebrates abundance, gratitude, and the rewards of effort, linking spiritual and earthly energies.
Gold Sanskrit symbols are incorporated to reflect spiritual wisdom, purity, and the divine. Paired with earthy green tones, they create a striking contrast that enhances the natural, sacred energy of the piece.
The phrase “Amongst the Moon, I am the Stars” draws inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita, a cornerstone of Hindu philosophy. While not explicitly stated in the text, the phrase echoes its themes of self-awareness, duty, and the nature of the self, reinforcing the work’s focus on cosmic balance and the dialogue between the earthly and the divine.
Under The Skin
Under the Skin is a mixed-media piece created from cotton, draped organically to explore the feminine form and natural movement. Initially inspired by the softness and romance of silk sheets, the process shifted the work into a deeper, more visceral expression. The cotton now evokes rich, dark reds, almost leather-like, suggesting wear, resilience, and intensity.
The composition gathers into a twisted form in the lower right corner, creating a sense of central pull and tension. This emerged during the making of the piece, as I processed personal anger and hurt. The work became a channel for confronting inner pain, reclaiming my body, and exploring the complex sensuality of vulnerability and emotion.
Through textured draping, layered paint, and mixed media, Under the Skin transforms personal experience into a sculptural, tactile exploration of emotion, body, and form. It remains one of my favourite pieces, resonating with both struggle and quiet strength.
