In this set of work I attack the mother of pearl shell using simple graphics. I etch obscure black images relating to warfare, weaponry, nationalism, vehicles, damage and strange creatures. The pretty shimmer of the shell conflicts with the raw dark linear designs via which I deploy military shells onto the pearl shells. When faced directly or indirectly with the horror of war most people will try to crawl into some form of protective shell and here it seems I do exactly that. I both protect myself from the ambient fear of war and general terror one feels occasionally by creating shiny pretty objects and within the artwork I remind myself that extremely dull and very un-pretty things lurk just outside.