Title: The Gatekeepers

Information about painting: Oil on canvas, 150 x 120 cm

The inspiration for the painting came from memories about picnics and families gathering together. As I worked, it became a breastfeeding picnic, bringing back memories of early motherhood and not feeling fully welcome in certain parenting groups. It made me think about gatekeeping, the way people can create circles of belonging and exclusion. Although rooted in motherhood, the painting grew into a reflection on a wider human experience, the desire to be included, and the reasons people sometimes keep others at a distance. I wanted the figures to remain fluid and unresolved, occupying a space between memory and imagination.

Price: £2200 (unframed)