My paintings are a kind of relaxation for me while I work on larger, more thematic, projects. Most are influenced by Middle Eastern colour and form. The women shown here in turban head-dresses pose an air of mystery; the faces obscured by an implied veil. Although these women are hidden from the world, their head-dresses suggest a rich, secret life.

The abstracts are the result of a joyful exploration of paint and colour. All my paintings in one form or other are a revelation of my inner life; a kind of externalised view of my beliefs.

All paintings: acrylic on canvas.