STILL LIFE WITH BOOKS

This is a standard format kind of still-life, the theme being the passage of time. The history books, diary and watch signify this. The snuffed out candle is also symbolic of the transient nature of life.
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TEMPUS FUGIT

The title of this painting explains it all really. 'Tempus Fugit' - time flies. Again the theme is the passage of time. Thsse clock and watch each tell a slightly different time to show the time elapsed. Another version of this painting shows other items, all conected with time, moving across the picture plane in an arc, mimicking the motion of a pendulum.
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MOBILE STILL LIFE

I was influenced also by many of the 16th and 17th century Dutch masters, particularly the still-life paintings of such artists as Heda and Steenwijck.

In this small still-life I have tried to incorporate a trompe-l'oeil effect with a surreal twist. All the objects appear to be floating or moving except for the duck which, being a wooden decoy, sits perfectly still!  
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FRUIT OF THE SEA

Shells were prized by early Dutch artists for their bizarre beauty. Here we see a typical still-life set up with various shells and a lemon. The lemon may sit comfortably with shells but also has another significance. It is a deceptive fruit, looking sweet but tasting bitter, and it's shape mimics that of the dog whelks.  

THE EXTENDED NICHE

This painting was commissioned to accompany Fruit of the Sea. It has a similar setting but here the view is into a coutyard with both exterior and interior references.  
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BREAKFAST PIECE

This small painting is one that has a surreal twist. All the items on the table are broken except the egg, which is the only item that must be broken in order to eat it.  
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SOFT BREAKFAST PIECE

This is painted along the same kind of theme as Breakfast Piece, but in this case, every item on the table is soft and pliable except the fried egg, which is quite brittle and cracked.
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