It was before Xmas last year and I drove home with a coffin made of raw wood in the back of my car. I suddenly was overwhelmed with sadness. My friend, Mark Jacob had created a bespoke coffin in two parts that was so beautifully and lovingly crafted, it both made my heart sing and left me feeling bereft. As soon as the structure was in my possession it was like the grief of the last three years came into my consciousness and body. I felt heavy all the way home. The feeling persisted for a few weeks and seemed to reduce only when I began to paint the coffin.

In my minds eye, initially this installation work was seen lying down but after seeing the coffin for the first time, it had to stand on it's side. And I could see a soft, otherworldly lining inside as a contrast to the hard wooden container. I wanted to have a sense of movement upwards, where the ground gave way to fragments that gradually dispersed into the overarching sky blue, resulting in a beautiful symbol at the top, as if it is at the crown chakra. There is also a larger symbol at the bottom, to ground the structure but it cannot be seen while the coffin is in the gallery; it is hidden deep within.

On a more practical note, this work has been created in two pieces and looks fabulous as two bespoke coffee tables when disassembled. They are the same height.