The  colour , glamour  and humour of drag queens  inspired me to create  my own drag alter-ego 'The Countess of Corsetshire'.  I performed as 'The Countess' at the mecca of London drag and queer cabaret 'The Old Vauxhall Tavern' ,this being  a departure from my usual practice of painting.  Following my M.A. studies at Chelsea and my foray into performance , I have undergone a retrenchment of my painting practice.  Although  loosely associated  with drag  my paintings have also  become influenced by the post war European art movement 'COBRA' and the colourful, camp, primitivist imagery that reflects the  humour , overstatement and  vivacity of the drag world. Having moved to a studio at home during lockdown I can use music as a background  to my painting. My current 'studio mates' and subtle influencers include; Edith Piaf, Louis Armstrong, and Bessie Smith . I have a well worked out process of applying layers of acrylic paint alternating with charcoal drawing which allows for a degree of improvisation and re-interpretation as the painting develops. I find that not knowing what the painting will become keeps thing exciting and hopefully, this is communicated to the viewer in the finished work.