His work is best summarised in his own words as a series of aims.

“The spectator is engaged in a contemplative experience, creating the sense of a new object existing in its own right.

A search to find underlying structures in natural phenomena through observation and intuition.

The creation of new images through the amalgamation of found structures, imbuing them with unfathomable poetic qualities.

The production of constantly shifting movements by the manipulation of spatial tensions.

To make colour forms appear as though they have occurred spontaneously and naturally.

The manifestation of an interaction of different kinds of pictorial space by the contiguous placement of varying pictorial elements.

The production of the feeling of improvised music through the use of rhythm, counterpoint and colour”.

In a number of ways he has spent a lifetime in search of an answer to the question, “How can animate beings emerge from inanimate matter?” He finds meaningful patterns that arise only from particular types of systems of seemingly meaningless symbols.

“The idea of transformation is of the utmost importance. The results are often a world that is not an actual object but that of a superimposed element that serves to transcend the momentary and limited individual experience of a work of art, drawing it into the greater and solely valid realm of infinite and continuous being.”

Such work emanates from the passionate and intense observation and experience of life and materials every day. What you see here in the galleries is simply a touchstone to a lifetime commitment to expressing the aims described here. Galleries 1 and 2 allow a glimpse into parts of Derek’s work and vision, with pieces and details of pieces arranged to allow the viewer to begin to become more acquainted with his approaches and perspectives.

Derek still spends considerable time reflecting on his work, his perception, and the daily observations of life, light, and objects he meets, principally these days along England’s North West coastline. He continues to commit to works in a ceaseless journey to bring expression to these encounters.