About this artwork

Painted from a photograph I took of my son Michael when he was just two years old, this portrait captures one of those quiet moments of childhood that can stay with us long after the years have passed.

His sideways glance and soft expression caught something I wanted to preserve — the innocence, curiosity and tenderness of those early years, when the world is still full of new discoveries.

As parents, we often wish we could hold on to these moments just a little longer! The little faces, expressions and gestures that seem so ordinary at the time can become some of our most treasured memories.

For me, portraiture is about capturing more than a likeness. It is about preserving a feeling and creating an emotional connection with the viewer. I hope "Michael" evokes memories of childhood for anyone who looks at him perhaps reminding them of their own children, or of a time when someone they loved was small.

It is this sense of nostalgia and emotion that lies at the heart of my figurative work: taking an ordinary moment and turning it into something that allows us to pause, remember and feel.