We, unusual and varied, must actively participate, prioritise awareness and kindness, to all living things. Care, make, to feel useful, to remember and remind.

Menagerie is an exhibition of drawings, weavings and paintings that explore themes of collect, capture and cosiness. Menagerie expresses wonder at the natural world whilst holding it out of time and reality. Beyond human, “captured” characters and environments, transform into dense ecosystems. But not in an artificially intelligent manner. More like, settling down after we’ve all rushed onto the ark and are nestling for the long voyage into deep space. Combing each other’s manes, mimicking bird song and hoping for a bright future.

Artist Statement, Menagerie 2026, Strathnairn Arts

The best way for me to work through ideas is to draw. Drawing oils the hinges on doors into larger projects. And then the delightful object of a drawing, touched by a human hand, smudges, errors, crumples and all. Sketches, scribbles, notes, plans, stories, real and imagined. They record the moment, the place, feeling and material.

Aspirational always, and it might be a bit silly of me, but I think drawing, like music, is something unique and wonderful to the human animal. I see the humane in drawing. Keep going!

An overhead view of a donut with white icing and chocolate drizzle, with various colored doodles and sketches around it, including abstract shapes, a flower, and a small illustration of rocks.

An abstract painting of a humanoid face with a large, blocky head and closed eyes, featuring red, white, and blue vertical lines and a dark green and black background.

A surreal painting features two children, one boy and one girl, interacting with various abstract and whimsical figures, including a large smiling face with a moon and star in the background, a blue elongated face, a small dinosaur model, and a large red creature with a smiling face. The scene is set against a dark night sky with celestial elements.

Watercolor painting of abstract flowers and leaves in various colors, including yellow, pink, purple, blue, green, and white.

Colorful abstract watercolor painting featuring dandelion seed heads, partially outlined in black, with a background of vibrant pink, yellow, green, blue, purple, and orange hues.

A grayscale drawing featuring a large face with wide eyes and an open mouth, surrounded by elements like a heart with a crack, a tree, rocks, and a sign that reads 'SAYON'.

A wall decorated with various sketches, drawings, and paintings of abstract shapes, characters, and scenes, some on paper and some on cardboard.

A mixed media artwork featuring a lying woman with long hair, surrounded by colorful abstract elements and flowers, blending realistic and abstract styles.

Abstract watercolor painting featuring a dark, textured circular shape resembling a flower or fruit, surrounded by leaves, a yellow outline, and various soft, blending colors.

A black and white watercolor painting of a woman lying down with her eyes closed, surrounded by abstract natural elements like a tree and flowing lines.

Black and white watercolor painting of a wrapped fish with a butterfly perched on it, accompanied by rocks and plants.

A surreal black-and-white drawing of a woman with flowing hair and face, surrounded by snakes and abstract patterns, with a tree and plant in the background.