The idea for The Skater comes from a childhood memory of my mother polishing the wooden hall floor. She would tie dusters to the feet of my brothers and me so we could ‘help’ to polish the floor. I remember this as being great fun. The skating outfit is made from household dusters. The poses, as well as being inspired from ice skating dancers seen on television, reference eighteenth century paintings such as The Skating Minister attributed to Henry Raeburn and The Skater by Gilbert Stuart. The ‘ice rink’ I discovered in Conway Hall (the home of the Ethical Society in Red Lion Square near Holborn) was the perfect setting to re-enact a happy memory.
