Featured artwork:
Welcome to the Featured Artwork section, where each piece or series is a celebration of culturally collaborative creativity. Here is where Eastern and Western tradition meets to tell stories of adventure, heritage, and the transformative power of art.
Tides of Awaji:
Art of the Island
Tides of Awaji is a personal love letter to the rugged, soulful coastline of Awaji Island. I painted this triptych from three distinct points along the island’s western shore, using ink I crafted from incense soot and scavenged charcoal—mixed with water drawn straight from the Seto Inland Sea. Even the frame has a story: it was rescued from the rubbish heap and into my hands, thanks to a brief enquiry and a friendly chat over a beer.
Each panel captures a different slice of Awaji’s character—the crashing waves, the weathered cliffs, and the salty, sun-dappled breeze that seems to whisper the island’s secrets. The textures and hues in the ink are as raw and authentic as the local landscape, each brushstroke a direct connection to the land and its stories.
Tides of Awaji isn’t just a series of paintings; it’s a reflection of serendipity, resourcefulness, and the deep bonds formed between a place and its people. It reminds me that beauty can be found in unexpected materials and everyday encounters—a reclaimed frame, a shared beer, and a conversation about art can turn the ordinary into something truly extraordinary.
This work is my heartfelt tribute to Awaji Island—a place that continually inspires me to see the world with fresh eyes and to transform the overlooked into art that speaks to the soul.
Highland Homeland:
Reverie reimagined
This series of three colored paintings is my heartfelt tribute to the Scottish Highlands—a home that has long inspired my creative spirit. Blending the timeless aesthetics of Ukiyo-e with the rugged beauty of Scotland, each piece reimagines familiar landscapes in a fresh, poetic light.
Drawing on traditional Japanese techniques, I infused vibrant hues and delicate patterns into scenes of mist-shrouded mountains, winding glens, and the restless spirit of ancient stone. The result is a fusion of East and West: the refined, subtle elegance of Ukiyo-e meeting the raw, majestic energy of my homeland.
For me, these paintings are more than just representations of the Highlands—they are personal reflections on identity, memory, and the enduring allure of nature. Each brushstroke carries echoes of both distant lands and home, connecting the serene artistry of Japan with the untamed Scottish spirit.
Highland Homeland invites you to experience the familiar landscapes of the Highlands anew, seen through an international lens where tradition and modernity coexist. This project celebrates not only the landscapes that have shaped me but also the beautiful possibilities that arise when different artistic worlds intertwine.
Broken yet Beautiful:
Piecing it back together
Broken yet beautiful is a sumi painting that tells a story of transformation and renewal. Set against the tranquil backdrop of a koi pond near Senso-Ji temple in Asakusa, this piece originally captured the graceful dance of koi fish using ink derived from incense soot from perfumed sticks being burned all around, as well as water from the very pond it portrays.
An unforeseen accident shortly after left the painting in ruins—a moment of heartbreak that threatened to erase its beauty. However, rather than succumb to loss, I embraced the Japanese philosophy of Kintsugi. Carefully, I repaired the damage with delicate strokes of gold leaf, infusing the work with new life and meaning. This act of restoration did more than mend; it enhanced the painting’s spirit, turning scars into shimmering symbols of resilience and beauty.
Now, "Broken yet Beautiful" stands as a powerful metaphor for life's unexpected challenges. It reminds us that even in our moments of fracture, there is potential for transformation—if we choose to honor our wounds, we can emerge more luminous than before. The painting invites viewers to reflect on their own journeys, to see imperfections not as failures, but as opportunities to create something uniquely extraordinary borne from the Japanese philosophy and practice of Kintsugi.
More from the collection:
This is just a small glimpse of my Japan-Anglo artwork—a fusion of Eastern and Western traditions that tells unique stories. For the full experience, explore every available piece in The Adventure Art Studio online Gallery.
I hope you enjoy your adventure through the rest of my cross-cultural collaborative Japan-Anglo art!
