Colour and pattern

Flowers and insects in close juxtaposition make a marvellous subject for painting. The first reason for me to paint them is for their colours and their patterns, attributes they both

Green Lace Wing with Hibiscus, watercolour on Saunders Waterford High White Not, 140lb (300gsm), 7½311in (19328cm).

The delicate transparency of this lacewing was a real challenge. I used dilute stains of phthalo green and tiny touches of cobalt green, which precipitates slightly.

The insect’s transparency practically camouflages it against the rampant hibiscus. Compositionally, it was a great contrast to handle