'There are several sources of inspiration for my work. The natural world has always been a favourite subject. My regular walks in Isabella Plantation, a garden in Richmond Park with its woodland streams, water plants and florescent rhododendrons and azaleas, inspired the designs for the Isabella series of vases.

I never tire of portraying the infinitely fascinating female form, which I often use when I explore themes of romance, love, lust, and other human emotions and feelings through poetry, love letters and other written material. The poetry of Pablo Neruda has been a huge inspiration in this area. On the larger work the painting and poetry is sometimes carried to the inside of the pot.

Another favourite subject has been the use of simple abstract patterns, such as checks or stripes, a perfect way to indulge in my exploration of and play with colour. This developed from my habit of testing all materials in different ways and combinations on scores of test tiles. Some of my test tiles are like mini abstract paintings, which act as inspiration for future work. Clear, vivid colours, an integral feature of my work, were probably instilled into my psyche during my childhood growing up in the tropics. Colour has a powerful therapeutic action, which can have a healing and rebalancing effect for both the artist and the viewer.

Many of my pieces are one offs, the rest are produced in small editions. I could no more make large quantities of the same vase, than a painter would want to paint 50 or 100 similar paintings. Yet, although the unplanned surprises that one is sometimes greeted by on opening the kiln door can be a disappointment, I also love that extra dimension of the wonderful unpredictability that is ceramics.'