These three miniatures, shortlisted for the Threadneedle Prize 2008, were originally made for my degree show, and were the culmination of that year's work. My attempt was to study 'truth' or 'existence'. I aimed for a quality of watchfulness and clarity in each painting, seeking a reminder of that in us which is an unchanging witness to the rest. I hoped that this sense would contrast with the physical subject matter: The human body, highlighting the permanence of one and the transience of the other.

 
 
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'Bob'

I posed Bob with his eyes closed as I have found this to have an 'inward looking' influence on me when viewing it in other works.
'Hannah'

This image of Hannah was my second attempt at her portrait. Despite taking about 30 or 40 photographs when preparing, as an aid to composition, it still seems impossible to know how a painting will turn out until it is being painted.
'Katey'

'Katey' was the first portrait I attempted in miniature. I found that at this size, I was drawn into close scrutiny of the work. I continued at this scale as the exercise of carefully observing is one that I find very satisfying. I hoped that the viewer might also enjoy this.