After the 100-year old plane-trees in Euston Square were murdered for a temporary HS2 taxi-rank, some smaller trees were left behind.
They would previously have been supported by their elders - pillars of the local tree community - in the complex collaborative underground network called the Wood Wide Web. Now, the smaller trees are effectively orphans, left mourning their huge ghostly neighbours.
Of course, those ghost trees haven’t lost all of their power. You can see how they have ghosted the traffic flowing in front of Euston Station - somehow splitting many of the vehicles into impossible sections.
What, I wonder, will they do next?

 Inspired by the grave threat posed to so many of our ancient woodlands by HS2, the red seepage of paint up and into the tree trunks in this little oil on canvas serves, I hope, as a warning.
My art always leads me and this painting is no exception. As with all my work, it spoke back to me when finished. I hope it speaks to others too.

Over generations all kinds of local community were grateful for the presence of The Cubbington Pear; providing shade for picnics, unusually bright Autumn colour and the great multi-stemmed trunk holding up a cumulus of blossom to be pilgrimaged to each Spring. It was revered for its symbolism of withstanding the march of industrial agriculture, for standing strong as an individual next to its ancient wood. How many people must have shared gratitude for its presence over its 250 years living?

I first drew it in full blossom, each visit documenting its changing response to seasons. Walking the woods with the Stop HS2 community, gathering for talks underneath the tree. Later sitting drawing and meeting HS2 ecologists doing surveys who did not know of its existence.  More and more people came as its fame galvanised protest but the fences still went up as the landscape was destroyed all around, Ancient gateway Oaks felled, the hedge ripped out around it leaving it a standing symbol of what was being lost.

For the last drawing I dodged the security, ignored the CCTV and worked fast with charcoal in the rain.  Stark angry black marks aghast at wilful destruction in the name of greed. 

"Rebirth" is a a varied edition lithograph with copper etching and chine colle details. This work examines the ways in which ecosystems are naturally able to rebuild and reform in the wake of natural disaster and destruction. However, the constant destruction of environmental spaces due to human influence and economic growth are hindering and directly blocking this process of regrowth and rebirth. Projects like HS2 will completely eradicate these natural systems causing mass and irreversible ecological devastation, and these habitats will not have the ability to rebuild themselves in the wake of such massive and devastating human ruination.

It’s grim up North! - This brief appealed to me as a documentary photographer and chose to cover the story of the High Speed 2 from the viewpoint of the protesters camping out in Crackley Woods, Warwickshire. There are so many groups who are against the decision to carve up the British countryside to make way for this feat of engineering at the expense of ancient woodlands, livelihoods and homes. I reached out to various private Facebook groups to engage with the narrative. I made my intentions clear. I pre-arranged to meet a couple of the protestors, who had spent a very windy night at the makeshift but comfortable camp. This proved invaluable as they had local knowledge of the area. Highlighting the damage to the environment caused by HS2, and apart from the loss of ancient oak trees, there was evidence of badger sets being netted to prevent them from returning, bat boxes being torn down and newts captured for analysis. I offered my images to their groups to help raise awareness for their campaign.