Turning what could be regarded as a corny subject into modernist art works was a true challenge after his previous years series.  This was down to a visit to his studio in Wales by friends and their 8 year old daughter who walzed in carrying a Buch of wild garlic. ‘my dad says you’re and artist, draw these’.

Centrally placed flowers, within marginal buffer zones, large in scale,  mark a re-visiting of the perceived object.  Like brain surgery is how Mike describes facing this challenge.

Many charcoal and graphite drawings and oils,  large in scale and drama. With the success of his first ‘Ransom’, more drawings followed with much hard looking and seeing, much taking out and rebuilding. This dynamic process is echoed in his works with oils.  Also came a realisation that he had closed off not only from his own early natural talent, but closed off from the nurturing powers of nature and the healing life of plants.