In Petite Astra, I explore the enduring human instinct to look beyond the earthly and towards the infinite. Inspired by the rich red ochre walls and sculptural acanthus fronds of the Casa de Pilatos in Seville, the painting draws upon an ancient fresco of stars surrounding an upper window, together with the celestial form of a Sevillian processional star. Through abstraction, these architectural and devotional fragments become a meditation on aspiration, faith and the quiet wonder of looking upwards. For me, the painting reflects those moments when we are drawn to lift our eyes beyond the familiar, to contemplate the vastness of the heavens and perhaps discover something extraordinary by simply looking a little closer.

147 × 85 cm | Framed 170.5 × 110 cm Oil and mixed media on Arches Oil Paper