Creatures of Character

Born from Curiosity and Fear

I have always been fascinated by bugs and insects, ever since I was a child. This fascination was both thrilling and a little frightening. I remember camping outdoors, wearing what my dad called “beetle-crusher” wellies, and encountering scary daddy longlegs in the campsite showers. Those early experiences planted a curiosity that has been reawakened through painting, as I rediscover my fascination with insects in my adult practice.

The Symbolism Behind the Creatures

The spiky, sometimes sinister elements of these creatures are what I love most to draw; they seem to flow naturally from my dip pen. I am particularly drawn to the duality of their symbolism, using insects in ways that connect to centuries of artistic tradition. Historically associated with decay, death, and transformation, they bring a vanitas-like, otherworldly presence into my work while also suggesting cycles of renewal and change.

Giving Insects Personality and Heart

At the same time, imagining these creatures with distinct personalities allows me to approach them with empathy. By giving them character, story, and emotion, I celebrate these often-overlooked beings in a more human, caring way, inviting viewers to see them not as threats, but as protagonists within their own miniature worlds.

My Creative Process

My process usually begins with photographic references and, occasionally, a still-life specimen as a starting point. I draw directly onto the page, often beginning with ink using a dip pen, with no preliminary sketching. Colour is then added using watercolour and brush. Each piece grows organically, building layers, movement, and energy as the image unfolds.

Bringing the Series to Life

Creatures of Character brings together a vibrant cast of beings born from movement, wonder, and the blurred line between the natural and the fantastical. Airborne forms drift through celestial space, while Baroque-inspired figures whirl in playful, shifting viewpoints. Miniature insect-characters reveal their own personalities and attitudes, each imagined as a tiny protagonist in an unfolding story. Elsewhere, mythic, cave-like creatures pulse with colour and mischievous energy, echoing ancient marks while feeling entirely new.

Themes of Transformation and Connection

Across the series, these worlds collide to explore transformation, theatricality, and the evolving relationship between humans and the creatures around us. Whether celebrating flamboyant costume, the expressive curiosity of insects, or the unsettling possibilities of future foods crawling toward us, the works invite viewers to look closer, and to meet each character with both delight and reflection.

You can explore the full Creatures of Character series online and discover each tiny protagonist in all their mischievous, colourful detail.