What inspired me?
A piece of spalted wood.
 
Walking in local woodland one evening, I almost tripped over a pile of Beech logs, cut and seemingly abandoned. The end of each log was covered in the most incredible patterns, that I now know was spalting, though that day it was a revelation.
 
Spalting occurs when the wood starts to decay. As the timber breaks down colours and patterns start to appear. Beech is renowned for producing particularly striking patterns.
 
Muttering to myself for my lack of art materials, I resorted to photography. When I returned the following day with sketchbook and colours, ready and eager... the logs had vanished. If my original visit had taken place 24 hours later, I'd never have seen them at all. It felt like the experience was meant to be.
 
I always knew I'd make art based on this pattern, but didn't know at the time how or what. I just knew that watercolours weren't going to cut it, and that was all I was using at the time.
 
The pattern remained at the back of my mind for 25 years, until I felt compelled to create this painting.
 
While this isn't an exact copy of the original pattern, it's pretty darned close. Isn't nature incredible?