Gouache on C.18th solid oak plank door (from Norfolk, England)

77 x 194 x 5 cm

Many of my found-object seascapes are produced over extended periods; weeks often pass between layers. The object lives with me in the studio, contemplated daily. Layers and highlights are carefully planned, imagined before being applied—from eye to hand and back again. Antique doors are a favorite object to transform. This one, dating from the mid-18th century, took four years to complete. Touched by many hands over many decades, the bare wood acts as the sky; the hole where a handle once turned acts as a light source. The painting aims to speak of patience, respect for materials, yet also of function and routine.