Featured work by Lesley Anne Derks

I was born in Falkirk, Scotland in 1977 and brought up in Grangemouth where I continue to live until this day.

Grangemouth is predominantly an industrial town. In my early years it hosted businesses such as ICI, Docks and the BP Petro-chemical plant which were all major influences in my life. At school everyone seemed to have a parent or relation who worked in these fields. My father worked at the BP plant for 30 years until his retirement. The plant which dominates much of the skyline of Grangemouth always had a deep fascination for me. I was amazed that something that appeared so grey and somewhat ugly during the day could become so beautiful at night. When friends who were not familiar with Grangemouth came to stay my dad would take us on a tour in the car to see the lights at night. Some people have associated Grangemouth with its strange orange night glow as being some form of an alien world; a scene out of Bladerunner or cities such as New York.

Grangemouth in my early years at school would always make some appearance in my art work. In 1994 I left senior school and did a 1 year Art and Craft course at Falkirk College of Technology. In 1995 I was accepted into Glasgow School of Art where I completed a BA Hons in Fine Art Drawing and Painting. Again Grangemouth would make some appearance in my work all be it in a very abstract manner. It wasn't until my final year and after a 3 month student exchange in Barcelona I became fascinated with night scenes. It was then I realised the thing I really loved painting was nightscapes. Back home the inspiration was right on my doorstep. For several years Grangemouth became the main inspiration for my work. I then progressed this love of night onto cityscapes. However, the early halos of colours and strange glows from Grangemouth are still apparent in my work.

All my work is based on the places I have visited over the last few years. I'm fascinated by the hustle and bustle of city night streets. The sounds, the smells, the lights and in particular the reflections they create. My aim is to produce work that evokes these feelings within the viewer, almost allowing them to step into these scenes, experiencing the lights, sounds and movement.

I feel in order to paint these scenes you must see them first hand and travelling is an integral part of my work. I need to hear the sounds, smell the smells, soak up the atmosphere of a particular place. I also use my camera as a back up to these experiences treating it almost as my sketchbook. When taking photographs I know exactly what I am hoping to capture in my composition. The camera also allows me to play with movement, such as passing vehicles.

I then work from a series of photographs and choose certain elements from each one bringing them together in one composition.

My palette consists of enamels and oils. Working in mixed media allows me to experiment with different texture and effects. I always begin with a bright base coat consisting of red, yellow and white. This foundation gives my work a glow like quality. My paintings are built up over several layers which often includes areas where I peel back a layer to show what went on before. This gives depth to my work.

I spend at least 5 days a week in my studio but sometimes more. I try to work at least 8 hours a day and normally I am in the studio for around 9.30am. I find it very hard to get out of my studio before 7pm and do feel it tends to take over my whole life. However I wouldn't have it any other way as I love what I do and feel very lucky that people taking an interest in my work has allowed me to do this.

Being an artist has also allowed me to lecture, organise and teach workshops. More recently I was asked to curate a landscape exhibition. Currently I am attending an art therapy course and hope to use the skills learned in a practical sense.

In my graffiti work I try to bring to life an everyday place, by adding people with a story and a character of their own. When my graffiti people enter a very ordinary space, their presence brightens it up.

I used to take a sketchbook wherever I went, but now I have discovered the power of the digital camera. I always carry my camera everywhere. I love being able to capture an image so instantly and take it home to inspire my pictures.

Originally my photos were just a source of inspiration for artwork. Nowadays I am using the photographs more directly, blowing them up and printing them on canvas as a background for my graffiti. I enjoy the interaction between places and people. This is a major attraction of graffiti. I think of a character I would like to paint, then search out a perfect location. I photograph the location, bring it home to my studio and stencil my character in this new habitat.

For each character I cut out several stencils, carefully working out a sequence of stencils to give a really rich image. Once the stencils are finally ready, the magic begins. I place each stencil in turn on the canvas, and spray-paint through it. The picture gradually emerges as I add layers of spray paint in different colours.

I moved from London to the country about ten years ago and I live and work in an old farmhouse, where I have built a shed for spray-painting. I love its rough, rustic character. It`s a great place for messy jobs, and gives me the freedom to explore.

I work very intensely, and when I am painting I often work far into the night to finish a piece. Then I like to put the finished piece in my studio and keep looking at it from time to time to see if I want to make any changes.

To relax, I like to sip Chinese green tea, play table tennis or just go for a walk in the beautiful Wye Valley near my home.