Oil on canvas. This bin bag was from my local area in London. Bin bags strike me with their aesthetic quality; reminiscent of the satin dress from the old masters’ paintings of nobility. This idea also evoked my inner child’s sense of humour - I found joy in the irony of elevating the status of such a fixture of everyday scenes of the urban landscapes in which I live.

I was born and grew up in Archway, in Islington. Both my parents come from art backgrounds and I was particularly inspired by my dad’s artwork, where I think my sense of playfulness also came from. I have painted from a young age, going on to study design at Goldsmiths and the RCA, working on other creative fields. I returned to painting using oil paint as my main medium.

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Through my practice I observe and reflect on my surroundings: everyday landscapes/objects. Artists like Martin Parr had a big influence on the way I see things as an artist, like he did on a lot of people in my generation, exploring the social and cultural contexts with a sense of humour. I also take inspiration in the craft and often dry perspectives of photorealist paintings. With this dead-pan approach, I play with visual puns, and straddle the joy and irony inherent in the scenes of urban life.