I am fascinated by the way we can ‘see time’ in the marks and colours left on the Earth's surfaces. When creating, my process aims to recreate the physical sensations we feel when we notice the patterns and colours in the rocks, trees, leaves, the light playing on the sand and hills at different times of the day, shells, the small creatures and seagrasses washed up from the sea, the fossils of creatures past embedded in the surface of the Earth, the glow of the sunset.

 I hope my work lights the curiosity of the viewer, in the same way we pause to gaze at nature, becoming captured by a detail that causes us to stop, breathe in the moment and feel the wonder of where we are. My work invites the viewer to take a closer look, and to ponder on the marks, colours and layers in the pieces, to bring the experience of pause inside their home.

We need reminders that humanity is fragile, that our survival depends on our care for the Earth, or the fierceness of nature will ultimately leave humanity itself as just another layer in its palimpsest.

Chris Small 2021