When telling people about my art, showing them my works, I often hear that line. It’s one I used myself. But it is merely something we tell ourselves that has no real truth to it. If you can apply paint to a surface, you’re painting, and that’s good enough as far as I am concerned. That’s all I do.

I spent my early life wishing I could paint but not even daring to think I had the right to pick up a brush. I finally had a go. Spring 2007, I felt an urge to go out and buy an easel and paints, not really knowing what I was going to paint. Then I was inspired by feeling, something of which I have in abundance. Finding myself entering into a moment of panic, an image came to mind and immediately I let it out onto paper. That was the beginning of using painting as an outlet for my emotion.

As someone with Asperger’s, I can find communicating awkward. It can be hard to find the words to express what I’m feeling. It can be hard for other people to understand what I’m getting at. Such misunderstandings leave me frustrated and sometimes anxious. Discovering art has given me an alternative and more effective and satisfying way to say what’s on my mind. Honestly and sometimes bluntly.

Taking acrylics, with their vivid colours, and painting shapes and scenes to make bold (and usually dark) statements of feeling has been a really powerful creative outpouring. Thus I feel I've found my footing in emotional, conceptual expression.