From Above - Aerial Art

A series of semi-abstract artworks based on aerial views of London and Nablus.

I love flying over cities. I love seeing the familiar elements of buildings and roads transformed into unexpected abstract patterns.

Viewing a city from above also allows you to understand something of its character, culture and history. The tightly packed grid of fast-paced Manhattan, the crowded collision of old and new in the City of London, and the higgledy-piggledy rooftop chaos of cities in the Middle East all hint at how such places have evolved over time in response to their inhabitants' needs and priorities.

London

The first part of this series features mixed media aerial interpretations of London. Many of London's buildings look like they have been carefully considered from all angles - including from above. The colour scheme was inspired by the endless cold, damp winter months. Look out for the Thames river boats and distinctive red London buses.

Nablus

In the second part I focused on Nablus - a Palestinian city I visited weekly whilst living in the West Bank - and who's layout I never quite grasped..

Note the change of colour scheme - here I painted on old cardboard boxes to give the images a warmer, sandy tone and a beat-up quality. The shapes are a lot less formal and orderly than in London - town planning is very different in the Middle East!

Some building shapes have been glued then ripped off to mimic the brutal policy of home demolition which often occurs in response to individual aggressive acts against Israel. Also look out for the water tanks that litter the roofs, and the domes of many mosques.