I worked with three talented dancers for this series: Rachel Laird, Stephanie Burrell and Shannon Dray. I commissioned Rachel to devise a choreographed dance routine inspired by a painting I saw at the Bristol Art Museum, Briar Rose by Sir Edward Burne-Jones. Then, we met in a studio for our first rehearsal at Walpole Park and Gunnersbury Park, Ealing.

Seeing how the dancer’s bodies moved in the studio and outdoors on grass was fascinating. Listening to their stories about their passion for dance and the years of training they have put into developing their skills really helped me understand what motivated them even when they faced challenges.

Left to right

Image 1 – The summer when everything changed, oil on canvas, 60 h c 76 w cm.

image 2 – The Daughters of Eve, oil on canvas, 60 h x 76 w cm.

Image 3 – Did you know what would happen next? Oil on canvas, 60 h x 76 w cm.

Image 4 – Consider the lilies/mud/tears/growth, oil on canvas, 100 h x 100 w cm.

Image 5 – I know that one day this will all work out, oil on canvas, 60 h x 76 w cm.

Image 6 – What I wish I could tell my younger self, oil on canvas, 100 h x 100 w cm.

Image 7 – Grit and guts, watercolour and oil pastel on paper, (A4) 21 h x 29 w cm.

Image 8 – Time, youth, and this fading memory, watercolour and oil pastel on paper, (A4) 21 h x 29 w cm.

Image 9 – Push and pull(ing myself back together), watercolour and oil pastel on paper, (A4) 21 h x 29 w cm.

Image 10 – Dive, dig deep, and let go, watercolour and oil pastel on paper, (A4) 21 h x 29 w cm.

Image 11 – Dancing in the shadows, watercolour and oil pastel on paper, (A4) 21h x 29w cm.

Image 12 – The three graces, watercolour and oil pastel on paper, (A4) 21h x 29w cm.