Maddy is a Surrey-based artist who seeks to convey the magic of small moments from the natural world. She is drawn to the myriads of textures around her, and she likes to explore different mark-making techniques to capture and invite in the spontaneity of nature’s quirks.

The work she creates usually evolves over long periods of time and uses many layers. The paintings are sometimes wholly acrylic, but often Maddy also incorporates a wide range of mixed media such as collage, inks, hessian, tissue paper or pencil - the list continues to grow as she continues to experiment. Her favoured starting point is to “play” with materials to result in a surface full of intuitive and unexpected marks and colours. She then responds to these, painting over or embracing this initial starting point, or even scratching back through paint to this layer. 

The subject of all Maddy’s work is rooted in nature, and she uses sketches, photos and memory to inform the process. Working directly from a subject outside can lead to paint-spattered trousers, and interesting logistical challenges, but is an important aspect. Running with her black labrador, walks and spending time outdoors are also integral ways that she builds sources for inspiration, and she strives to embed her experience and interpretation of a moment.

Maddy has always been connected to art. Even as a toddler, she was fascinated with paint and would spend long periods of time “making”. She pursued this passion and undertook a teaching and Fine Art degree at university, but her creativity was then pushed into the background whilst she taught full time as a primary-based teacher. However, the creative urge has always bubbled in the background, and she has run many holiday creative workshops from her kitchen table and is now an art teacher. Recently, she moved to working part time to enable her to begin this journey of being a creative more fully.