Artist's Statement:

In my pocket English Dictionary; 'auricle' is defined as the name of the outer ear, as well as that of the heart chamber...'

Work for Auricle, my exhibition in the Ashford Gallery at the RHA, emerged from painting outside my home in Athy, Co. Kildare and at New Art Studios in Dublin, between 2005 and 2007. I chose to work freely during this period, without thematic boundaries, simply responding to subjects of personal interest, intuitively following heart and senses.

The Auricle collection is painted directly from life and from the figure. Inspired by the natural world and traditional painting techniques, I combine miniature oil-paintings, incorporating gold leaf, with three dimensional forms. I am interested in colour and contrasting textures. My painting surfaces are varied. I use boxes to display paintings and presentation itself is another aspect of my work.

The focus of my painting is 'in the moment' as I listen carefully to observations. This will be further realised in a sound installation created for Auricle by the artist Jack L.