My  series of paintings titled ‘The adder beneath the rose’ are inspired by the epiphyte, a plant that grows harmlessly upon another plant.

It was the unique shape, depth and enigmatic quality of the Australian staghorn fern from my sister’s garden in New South Wales that captivated me. Portraying this species with other landscapes and images from popular culture broadens the themes of alienation, dependency and elicits associations with ignes fatui.