After a visit to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, I've been looking at 17th century female, mainly Dutch and Flemish artists, who were painting flowers. I particularly liked the dark backgrounds which gave the actual flowers a jewel like quality which 'glowed' but emphasised their fragility. I have concentrated on studies of roses and used different media and surfaces, working towards a 21st century take on 17th century ideas - Time passing and the transcience of life. This and other work will be on exhibition in ARTEL Contemporary Exhibition in October.