How often can an artist trace their career trajectory back to one single artwork? One piece that defined their path, completely clarified their artistic voice which until that point had been unfocused and plagued by everyone else’s ideas, thoughts and opinions. I don’t know the answer. I know a lot of other artists, and we all find our way with different approaches and on varying time scales, but this is my story and it all hinges around this one piece.

We all know artists have to suffer for their craft right? Which is why when we arrived at a beach by Port Talbot, my other half happily stayed in the warm car watching with a bemused grin as I clambered over shingle, lay next to rocks and got really close and personal with a good looking puddle.

"What plaster do you use?" is a question I'm asked at least a couple times every week, and while I really don't mind, it is quite a difficult question to answer. Plaster is not an easy medium to use for artwork, and it is especially difficult to master. It cracks, it peels, it crumbles. It can be too soft, too hard, too dry, too wet.

Let's face it, plaster is not designed to be used for artwork.

My artwork is inspired by nature and the textures found there, as a way of bringing that sense of peace and tranquility found in the natural world into our homes. So it's important to me that the materials in my work are as natural as possible in order to compliment this ethos. One of the main components of the plaster mixes I have created is gypsum.