“In 2023, while working towards an exhibition themed around the Great Houses and Gardens of England, I painted the Manners sisters at Belvoir Castle, one of England’s most iconic historical houses. I was inspired by artists such as John Lavery and William Nicholson who masterfully painted figures within interior settings, along with John Singer Sargent’s less formal conversation pieces. My aim was to capture the timeless beauty of the sisters in the famous Wellington Room whilst showing a behind-the-scenes glimpse of life in the British stately home today.

”Belvoir is renowned for its collection of antique Chinese wallpapers and I was particularly drawn to the beauty of the Wellington Room, with the pink upholstery against the pistachio-green chinoiserie wallpaper and the harmony of light and texture throughout the room. I decided to paint some areas much more tightly — for example, the girls’ faces, where I want the eye to be drawn, and left some areas, such as the bottle in the foreground, quite loose. I also love juxtaposition between thick and thin paint and tried to execute this where I felt it made most sense.

”In recent years, it has become increasingly appealing to me to paint people in settings that tell a story. While historical significance isn’t my primary focus, I do love when a portrait captures a moment in time that viewers and future generations may find intriguing. My goal is to create beautiful, meaningful, and informative paintings that are interesting to the viewer, whether they know the sitters or not.”