Writing about paintings could seem a contradiction in terms, as they are non verbal expressions, surely..-on the other hand it is asking a lot to expect the viewer to dive into each and every art work, with out any frame of reference, and so I hope that these brief thoughts may be of use.

The paintings are based in the world that is near us, but not always seen-the worlds of thoughts and imaginings, of myths and stories. We have an infinite capacity to conjure them up, and perhaps a need for them. They are the expressions of all our ancient societies, and one that is particular to mankind. They often involve animals- they seem to lope alongside us;-we see them in the Egyptian gods, in Prometheus and his fate, in Noah and his

task, Christ and the goldfinch.. They seem to reflect aspects of ourselves,

both in an anthropomorphism, and even more subtly in what we ascribe to

them, that is not always true.. mucky as a pig, "you dirty rat",. I think they

often seem to stand for the mute intuitive aspect of ourselves that we rarely allow to be heard.

Every viewer will have his own inhabitants, doppelgangers and companions
to bring along to see the paintings as well....

1", The Arrivals;-Bear drawn in New York museum-as seen in the native American shaman's costume. Here he is also the heraldic aboriginal bear of Newburgh, who welcomes the newcomers of the Warrior, King and Woman,

arriving up the river. The old raven is above... A new raven is coming into

the territory

2.Knightstomb.An elegy based on the carved couple on the island on lnschmacolme( the Lake ofMenteith). Sparrows are both delicate and uncaring unaware of this enduring affectionate story below their feet

3.   Gowk winds;- a breezy short story about Spring and its energy-the
greening, but also the fierce wind ('ne 'er cast a clout till may be oot"). The
gowk is the Scottish cuckoo, herald of Spring, but who fools the other birds -
and here the fool drops all the little foolhardy flowers that have emerged too
soon only to be scattered by the breenging winds.

4.   Wilful Heart. Based on Memoirs of a geisha, this is a story about confines
and breaking them. The sparrows here are again the daily, delicate and
creatures, indifferent to the huge whiplash of the heart's desires.

5.   Wing and A Prayer - the passionate demands of relationships-the real
and figurative conflict of domestic and open spaces. The little dog stands for
loyalty-mute.

6.Magic Berries for a crow that wanted to be a Jay;-well-have we not all wanted to a snail rather than a slug, to be the scented wild rose rather than the docken? And do we all not eat a few magic berries? (of our own choice-Thorntons?), now and again?!