I’ve wanted to create this series since I ran away and joined the circus in 2014… 10 years later, I’ve finally taken the leap. But I didn’t want to paint something that already existed… I wanted to bring the circus of my imagination to life.

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I’d trained as a classical ballet dancer with the Royal Ballet School until the age of 18 and I’ll always hold a special place in my heart for the classical arts. I fell head over heels in love with contemporary circus from the moment I set foot in the Big Top. I was especially captivated by the aerialists, who reminded me so much of ballerinas but suspended 20 feet in the air. The show was romantic, silly, moving and totally awe-inspiring.​​

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I was nervous of taking on the circus series because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to capture the dynamism and high energy that is synonymous with contemporary circus. As my work developed, I realised that the magic of a circus is cultivated as much by these beautiful moments of pause and quiet. Much like the counterweights that propel performers high into the air, for every action, an equal and opposite reaction. . These highs and lows create a natural rhythm, emblematic of life itself.​