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Have you ever felt like two passions in your life were meant to intersect?

That’s how it felt for me as I watched the live coverage of the UCI World Cycling Championships from Wollongong, Australia.

I’ve been a lifelong cyclist and cycling fan, but also an artist. When I had learned the following year’s event would be held in my home city of Glasgow, I knew I had to create something—a tribute to cycling, to the city, and to everything the bike has meant to me over the years.

The idea wasn’t just to paint bicycles or races. I wanted to capture the feeling of the bike—the elements, the endurance, the highs and lows. I wanted to convey the grit of digging deep and the pure exhilaration of freedom.

I thought about all my experiences: cycling with a club, riding from Land’s End to John O’Groats, climbing in the Alps, and watching the Tour de France live in France. Cycling has shaped my life in so many ways. That’s when the idea for the Peloton Abstract collection began to form.

I wanted the collection to reflect the “race within the race.” Each piece would explore the emotional and physical stages of a ride—the speed, colour, chaos, the moments of doubt, and the bursts of triumph. To do that, I had to push myself artistically. I sought a new style, something raw and personal. Just like cycling, the process was both challenging and rewarding.

I experimented. Some pieces were inspired by quotes from riders, but I deliberately kept the work timeless—no team names, no specific figures. It wasn’t about any one rider or event. It was about the universal experience. I even incorporated hidden shapes and elements, inviting viewers to bring their own interpretations.

The process wasn’t easy. There were good days and bad, just like cycling. But through it all, I kept coming back to my mantra: “Cycling is an art.”

When the collection was complete, I exhibited it during the championships in Glasgow. Seeing the paintings in that environment—alongside the energy of the road races—was unforgettable.

People walked through, stopping to take in each piece, surprised, curious, and moved. That’s when I realised I’d captured what I set out to do. My two passions—cycling and art—had come together, not just for me, but for everyone who shared the space with my work.

It was more than a tribute. It was a celebration.