Art Bio

I am a Franco-Jamaican artist based in London, whose journey into painting was first sparked by a deep love of jazz. I have always felt that music and visual art are intrinsically linked, but I sought an additional medium to fully express my artistic sensibility. 

With my art I hope to redefine the traditional perceptions of the colour black. Often associated with negativity and darkness but through my paintings I aim to redefine what it traditionally represents and shed light on all the different shades that exist within it. Showing that within those shades exist the many stories and worlds that live within the multitude of different cultures and ethnicities. I intend to highlight these rich stories and cultures that are frequently overlooked or misrepresented and showcase the beauty, depth, and vibrancy that exist within the black experience.

While black is a central theme, I incorporate vibrant colours to challenge the conventional associations of the colour black and what it traditionally symbolises. Creating pieces that are rich in colour yet imbued with a sense of depth and introspection. I use a lot of lines that connect to each other in some loose way or form, transporting you from one section of my painting to another. Using the characters as guides and storytellers and symbolism as clues or signs to point you towards whichever meaning you find beneath its surface while still leaving it open enough for each person to see/write their own journey within it.

In my recent works, I have adopted gold as the foundation for my figures' complexions, layering upon it to emphasise the idea that  we all share the same humanity and that regardless of the colour of our skin, beneath it, our blood still runs red, or in the context of my art, gold. Gold, in this context, serves as a symbol of intrinsic value, beauty, and resilience, highlighting the light that exists within us all. 

Additionally, I’ve painted in a way that intentionally leaves parts of the paper exposed, creating the illusion of figures slowly emerging from the surface. This effect was inspired by the process of developing film in a darkroom, a moment my father often recalls as the catalyst for his love of photography. He described watching an image gradually appear on a sheet of film as if unlocking a portal to a captured moment in time—a moment that he, at the time, could only describe as magic. I have always been drawn to this idea, as it reflects the way we often lose our ability to see the magic in the unknown as we grow older. Rather than questioning or dissecting every mystery, I want my work to evoke that sense of wonder, inspiring the viewer to embrace the beauty of the unseen and the unfolding.

I base my narratives on real stories and experiences but while placing more focus on the beauty that grew from those journeys or struggles. With each piece acting as an almost portal like gateway to a world I curated, a realm that exists somewhere between reality and surrealism and is not limited to or bound by the constraints of this time. 

My work draws inspiration from the subjects captured by photographers such as Dennis Morris, Gordon Parks, Malick Sidibé, and Seydou Keïta, as well as from Blaxploitation and foreign films, vintage record sleeves, and literature—from James Baldwin to James McBride. I am particularly influenced by the cultural and artistic landscape of the 1960s and 1970s, a time of boundless experimentation and creative freedom. What began as a love for the music of that era evolved into a fascination with its design, aesthetics, and artistic movements.

Alongside these modern influences, I often reference traditional 16th-century paintings from around the world. This historical connection lends a sense of timelessness to my work, allowing it to exist within the canon of classical art while challenging its traditional narratives. My goal is to create pieces that would feel at home in esteemed collections like the Wallace Collection, despite centring subjects who have historically been excluded from such spaces. Through my work, I seek to reclaim and reframe these untold stories, offering new perspectives on identity, history, and representation.