I love to tell a story in all of my works,

whether it's a portrait or a fantastical piece

and this painting is no exception. After much

research, sketching and deliberation - I am

proud to present, ‘Malus Domestica'.

The essence of this work embodies the idea

of deception. I have explored this subject by

basing the two main characters on the

classic fairy tail ‘Snow White.' The Queen and

her stepdaughter's relationship involved its

fair share of deceit.

I have also depicted one of Aesop's fables in

the large outer ring of mosaic circles. The

crow deceives the gull and then steals his

food after the gull's efforts to release it from

its shell under the crows direction.

symbol - (hence the paintings title.) It has

ancient deceitful connotations tracing all the

way back to the story of ‘Adam and Eve'. You

may note also the serpent from this story is

represented in the inner mosaic rings, along

with other animals associated with trickery

and deception such as a cameleon, fox, two

faced man, cat, monkey, crow and spider.