“Spirit of Youth” is my painting of the wonderful sculpture by Janis Ridley, which stands outside St Matthews Hall in Topsham.  I felt a strong emotional response to it one spring day when I was sitting having lunch in the gardens there, enjoying the little statue, surrounded by tulips.  The way the little girl is moving, with her arms held wide, head up towards the sun and toes pointed, seemed to so beautifully personify youth.  The freedom and carefree joy that can so easily be found in youngsters reminded me  of the importance of savouring little moments each day and to be truly present when golden nuggets in life come along.  In my response to the statue, I echoed golden flecks and leaves amongst the tulips, filling the garden around the statue with energy flicks and movement lines.

The painting is in acrylic paint on canvas and is varnished and ready to hang.

80 x 80 cm.