I have recently returned from a period of travel in India, Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. This was a great chance to experience different cultures from around the world, taking in a variety of  contrasting landscapes, environments and people.

India provided a rich source of inspiration, with many new sights and experiences filling up my daily encounters. From busy city streets over flowing with activity, to calming mountain hill stations, the colours, smells and sights have an energy that I will be channeling in my new work.

Arriving in West Coast Australia after the hectic urban sprawl of Mumbai was quite a shock, the contrast couldn't have been greater. With wide open roads, empty streets and never ending bush replacing cobbled together housing and street sellers at every corner. Hitting the road, the horizon stretched on for miles and the sense of space was quite something.

In contrast to the dusty reds and light wooded colours of Australia, New Zealand felt like an oasis of green in places, with lush vegetation around every corner. The mighty Karui tree forests overflowed with moss, bird life and ferns of every kind.

On return I spent time exploring the countries of Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. The busyness  of these countries provided a welcome change of pace after the calm of New Zealand. In Kuala Lumpur the huge skyrises towered over our heads, with concrete and glass magnifying the boiling heat to pressure cooker levels.

Amongst these urban jungles it was easy to find a Temple or Pagoda offering a more spiritual atmosphere than the hustle and bustle outside. With many tiled roofs stacked on top of each other, this was a type of architecture I'd never experienced before. Combine it with the heavy smell of incense and the dramatic shafts of light that pierced the interior, and these places took on an other worldy feel.

I am now back in the UK and the task of processing these experiences continues. I drew and painted in my sketchbook whilst out there, capturing a more direct response to what I was seeing and feeling. The challenge is to keep these emotions alive as I create new work reflecting these different perspectives.