Deborah Mitchelson

My paintings relate to my walks on the South Downs. When I think of a walk I have made, I also locate it in my mind on a map. I see maps as a metaphor for my journey in life. I would like to capture the personality of the place, the feelings of being in the landscape, of moving through the landscape, of walking. Maps are made so we can find our way from one place to another whether in nature or in the mind.

Colour excites my imagination and helps me to work in a bold and dynamic way. The surface brightness is underpinned by dark semi-abstract shapes suggesting the structure of the land. Colour is also used in an expressive way to emphasise life as a celebration. My ceramics reference the landscape and are directly influenced by my paintings. I use clay as a support for the painterly landscape pots.