This sequence of paintings are based on a carved stone from the Neolithic chambered cairn of Barclodiad y Gawres, in Anglesey. The cairn is over 5.000 years old and the style of carving comes from the Boyne Valley in Ireland. This style of carving is considered to be abstract but in the patterns, I discern the stylised form of woman’s body. Do the marks evoke a goddess?
The images explore a process of transformation, from stone to flesh to painting, through the process of mark-making. Carved or painted, marks can suggest softness or hardness, surface or depth. For thousands of years, humans have used marks to explore our deepest meanings.
Biography
My first degree (1970) was in the History of Art, and I have always been interested in the beginnings and history of art. I trained as an art therapist (1982-3) and still practice; I’m interested in unconscious processes, especially as they emerge through making art. In the last six years, attending Leith School af Art has helped me explore and develop my own creative process, which I hope to continue.
