Strawberry Fields Forever

Another self-portrait, this painting has a soft but striking presence. The girl’s direct gaze feels calm and unguarded, while the lamb in her arms adds a sense of innocence and quiet trust. The background - a wash of teal, mint, and rose tones - is dotted with floating strawberries, which gives the whole scene a touch of surreal whimsy without breaking its gentle mood. I painted this after moving back to “the country” after a 30-year absence - I find myself once again surrounded by bleating sheep - something I never would have guessed would happen!

The hair, with its flowing reds and dark shadows (I was a strawberry blonde with a Charlene from Neighbours fame perm), frames the face and makes my expression the emotional anchor of the piece. There’s a nice tension between the stillness of the central figures and the playful, almost dreamlike movement of the strawberries around them. It feels both tender and otherworldly - like a memory you’re not sure is real!

Named after the famous Beatles song - a nod to a return to innocence and childhood.