Through the Looking Glass
From the Beginning
Photography has been a big part of my life since I first learned the fundamentals on the job, working as a journalist in Thailand in the 1990s. A twist of fate, and a new title as Style Editor, led me to collaborate with the brilliant (and always hilarious) photographer John McDermott. Together we filled eight pages in a glossy magazine each month with fashion and lifestyle photo essays. We did it all—sourcing models, scouting locations, setting up shoots in studio and on the chaotic streets of Bangkok. It was an intense, hands-on education in light, composition, storytelling, and the magic of film. When I moved to Vancouver a few years later, I brought my camera—and everything John had taught me—and not much else in my suitcase.
Photography remains my first love, and I’ve been lucky to weave it into both my career and my art. For over a decade, I’ve documented large-scale construction projects, capturing the intersection of industry and human effort. At the same time, I’ve built an ever-growing archive of Vancouver, a city that first captured my imagination as a teenager from Montreal stumbling into the West Coast wonderland of Expo 86. I’ve never lost my awe at living in a place where mountains, ocean, and forest are all at my doorstep. I return to favourite spots like Jericho Beach and Pacific Spirit Park again and again, photographing their shifting moods.
The Inspiration
Decades spent immersed in graphic design has deeply shaped my work. I see the world through a designer’s lens, where bold colours, strong shapes, and dynamic contrasts create balance and movement. Even when inspired by real-world scenes, my work embraces perspective and structure to create a modern, almost abstract aesthetic.
Of the thousands of images I’ve taken, very few become the foundation for my paintings. The ones that stay with me, the ones I can’t let go of, share a common thread—they reveal how we intersect with the natural world. I find inspiration in these unlikely convergences, where nature meets industry and solitude meets connection. These moments of quiet tension and unexpected beauty are where my paintings begin.
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From Photography
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to Mixed-Media
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to Acrylic
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and on to Home!
The Process
My creative process unfolds in three phases: photography, digital mixed media, and acrylic painting, each building upon the last. I start by capturing moments through my lens, then layer and refine them digitally, creating a fully realized stand-alone artwork. Only once this piece is complete does it become the foundation for the final phase—translating it to canvas with acrylics, where texture and depth take over. Just as my process moves through three stages, my finished work often reflects three visual planes: people, industry, and nature intersecting in a single frame, revealing the quiet tension and connections within shared spaces.
Inside the Art Room
See how my pieces come to life and learn more about the different mediums and techniques I use by clicking n the images below.
