Quarries display visual surprises in the rock. In the recesses and caverns of the Coniston slate quarries are crisp edges, angular shapes and smooth planes, organic curves and feathery textures. Almost every colour is there, the native blues, greens and pinks of the rock enlivened by the red and yellow of water-borne iron and streaked with yellow-green algae.
These oil paintings are done on 2mm thick aluminium sheet with a concealed backing frame. I prepare each sheet with multiple layers of white gesso to give a smooth eggshell finish that takes both graphite and oil paint with exceptional clarity, without the woven texture of canvas. The crisp edge, unframed, suits a contemporary setting, drawing all attention to the painting itself which 'floats' some 2cm from the wall.