Personalised Abstract Map Artwork of Homes and Beloved Places – My Artistic Process

Introduction

I'm fascinated by how memories and emotions can transform any place. A house becomes a home, a monument shifts from a mere tourist spot to the place you got engaged, and a chance encounter might turn a random bar into your favourite meeting spot.

This fascination is what drives me to create map-based art of these locations—meaningful pieces that connect with the memories people hold dear. Each artwork is like a puzzle, with pieces that only those with similar connections will truly understand. And if they don’t, well, that gives you the chance to tell them your story piece by piece.

So, how do I go about making my maps? What might seem simple on the surface actually involves a complex and thoughtful process. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how I bring each piece to life.

Here's a map highlighting the area around a famous London Location near Charing Cross

Identifying a Location

The first step can come in a few ways. Sometimes, a location will inspire me personally. If I visit a place that deeply impacts me or that I think others might feel strongly connected to, I’ll consider creating an artwork of it.

For commissions, people often reach out to bring a unique representation of their home to life. Other times, clients discover my work through galleries, where a previous map piece might inspire them to request something similar for their own space.

Getting to know clients and what they're looking for from a piece helps me make something they love

Research and Planning

Here’s where the hard work that often goes unseen begins. I spend a lot of time examining the area I’m working on, thinking about not only the immediate space and features but the broader surroundings. I consider questions like: “Where is this piece meant to go? Who is it for?” and “What size and canvas layout will best capture both the home and the neighbourhood?”

For commissions, this step usually begins with a conversation to understand the person I’m creating for. This dialogue helps me create something that’s truly meaningful to them that fits the room they want the artwork hung in.

An example of some considerations I have for creating a piece. I also do this for the hanging space and room

Designing the Artwork

I typically create at least eight initial designs for each piece, pushing myself to explore beyond the obvious. Sometimes the unexpected compositions yield the best results. In one case, I designed twenty-six options - before settling on the twenty-fourth. My goal is always to create something that feels authentic and “right” for the subject.

Once I’ve shortlisted a few designs, I explore different colour combinations, often creating five to ten versions of each. While I have a core palette I enjoy, I customise colours to fit and enhance the client’s space.

I use Adobe Illustrator for this phase—it makes it easy to test variations and share mock-ups with clients. These mock-ups allow clients to see my thought process and provide feedback on any elements they want adjusted. I also offer swatches of proposed paint colors, so clients can see how each hue feels in their space, as colors on a screen can look quite different from real life.

Getting going on a new colour for a piece on Central Park

Creating the Final Piece

Once the design is final, I order all materials and begin the painting. I’ve developed my own technique, involving carefully applied tape for clean lines and multiple layers of paint for depth. I start by creating a template, measuring all lines and shapes to ensure the final work is precise. Then, I position the canvases, ensuring that tape runs smoothly across edges and in the negative spaces.

Each colour layer requires up to five coats, applied with rollers rather than brushes for a smooth, solid finish. This technique, unique to my practice, removes any expressive brushstrokes, allowing the emotional impact to come from the subject itself. This flatness can be challenging to achieve, but it’s essential to the end result. Once each colour dries, I peel the tape away, ensuring the lines are crisp, and then move on to the next area.

An example of a tape bowl i create as part of a commission

Tape Bowls

As part of commissions, I create unique signed bowls from the materials I use to create the main piece as an extension of the story of the artwork. They can look lovely in the room with the artwork as a way to integrate the piece into the wider space

Final Touches and Flexibility

Once I’m satisfied with the finished work, I prepare the canvases for hanging.

I prefer not to sign each piece until it has a new home; I sign in multiple places, allowing the new owner flexibility in orientation. This means the piece can be rearranged, split up, or hung differently over time without losing its essence. For a client who moves or changes space, this flexibility means the artwork can feel fresh and new for years to come.

Before the work leaves my studio, I photograph it for my website and social media. For commissions, I keep client identity confidential, but for public pieces of statues, landmarks, or monuments, I usually identify the subject so viewers can decide how it resonates with them.

Conclusion

Thank you for joining me on this journey through my creative process on how I make my abstract maps artwork. If you’re interested in a custom piece or would like to explore my available work, please reach out through the contact page or DM me on Instagram. I’d love to help bring your meaningful locations to life in art.

RECOGNITION x