The 1980's saw a return to painting and expression- sometimes called New Spirit Painting (Zeitgeist). These paintings were inspired by poems, novels, and myths that made reference to the sea and sea voyages. Herman Melville (Moby Dick, Redburn) Wordsworth (The Prelude) and Arthur Rimbaud (Le Bateau ivre -,"The Drunken Boat") were all significant to me at the time.

The paintings were completed on hand made supports, using fabric, carpet and sand. The imagery was often developed through drawing, collage and paper models that I would then paint from.

The interest in surface and the support for the painting has remained a central pre-occupation for me.