ABOUT THE ARTIST

"I am a thinker and curious about nature. I hope that each viewer has a similar curiosity and will dissect and unravel my themes in their own way."

ARTIST'S ANCESTORS

I am from a line of Duvall artists, descended from John Charles Adrian Duvall and Thomas George Duvall (father and son), both of whom were members of the Royal Academy in the 19th century. One of their paintings "The marriage settlement" (shown here) was recently auctioned for $28,400.

EARLY YEARS

I was mainly schooled in Cape Town, South Africa and won the gold medal at the Sao Paulo Young Artist of the Year competition. After school I had hoped to become a professional artist. Unfortunately I didn't find any sponsors and a lack of finance soon caused me to take up another career. The hunting scene was one of my early pictures.

LOST DECADES

I painted representational art only occasionally, sometimes portraits and sometimes straying into surrealism. Many years would pass between paintings and I became increasingly frustrated, searching for a self-expression that seemed impossible to find.

RE-BORN ARTIST

Now retired, in November 2021, I was urged to attend a course on Abstract Art at the Joe Daisy Studio, run by the late Caroline Hulse. It was a turning point for me. She inspired me to focus only on abstract art and to develop my own style. I have finally found my comfortable art place and I am doing my best to make up for my lost years.

CONTEMPORARY WORK

I have always been interested in the similarity between the organic shapes of folds of cloth, the human body, rock formations and plant life. I have explored the portrayal of a fantasy land in which these shapes float against an abstract background. I want to transmit my fantasy to the viewer and entice the viewer to enter into my space.

PROCESS

I generally apply thin layer after layer, always vigorously brushing, scumbling or bagging so that the effect is one of whispy, subtle shapes and colours that adds an ethereal mystique to the visual effect. I love texture and enjoy mark making that provides a contrast or a focal point. My greatest challenge is to free up and let the brush find its own way.