Portrait of Leila, & 12 people I know

In 2010, I painted Leila, purely for the love of painting. People especially..the way the light touches and bounces on and off and every whichway about the skin. The birds were fitting for the astounding person I know Leila to be. The use of symbolism in portraiture is something I have always been drawn to, and have often incorporated it into my work.
I loved doing the painting which measured 2mx2m, and it inspired me to start a series of portraits of "12 People I know", people who have had a profound effect on my life in the past 5 years.

                                                                             Leila

                                                                       Mandy Deacon

                                                                 Barbara Wildenboer

                                                                         Francois Irvine

                                                                       Nick Aldridge