About Me

I am a professional artist, demonstrator and tutor based in Hertfordshire, UK. My style of painting is a mixture of traditional and expressive techniques and though I use a variety of mediums, I often find acrylic paint better suits my needs.
 
Born in West Yorkshire, I grew up surrounded
by the rugged moorland landscape of the Brontës and Ted Hughes. Subconsciously, my eye has been coloured ever since by its legacy of grit- stone buildings and stark beauty.

My influences are diverse and include a love of Gainsborough’s loose pastorals, Lowry's graphic realism and van Gogh's vivid colour palette, fused with an enthusiasm for film, all of which filter through to my brush work.

Trained as a scenic designer, I often think of my subject as though it were a stage set, open to rearrangement for dramatic purposes. I rarely paint a location exactly as I find it, preferring to alter weather, lighting or viewpoint to suggest an alternate narrative. Having spent many years in the heritage sector, I’m also fascinated by the passage of time and my paintings often depict ancient human- shaped landscapes that are slowly being reclaimed by nature.

In addition to painting I demonstrate and run workshops for art societies and education centres, details of which can be found on my Events page.

My work has also been featured in several magazines, including 'Leisure Painter' magazine, to which I am a regular contributor of articles.
In my other creative capacity, I still provide design and illustration services to the heritage industry. This has involved set and graphic design, illustration and interpretative writing for museums, heritage and fantasy attractions both in the UK and overseas. You can find further details at:

Biography

Education:
2016 - Focus Level 3 Award in Education & Training (RQF)
1989 - 92 UCE in Birmingham - BA (Hons) Theatre Design
1988 - 89 Huddersfield Polytechnic - Foundation Diploma in Art & Design
Exhibitions:
2021 - Big Art Fair at Hitchin Town Hall
2021 - Various Group exhibitions at The Wynd Gallery, Letchworth G.C.

​2020 - 'Small Works' - Group exhibition at The Wynd Gallery, Letchworth G.C.
2020 - HVA Spring Group Exhibition - New Maynard Gallery, Welwyn Garden City
2019 -  Group exhibition Baldock 4 at the old Town Hall, Baldock, Herts -  (Herts Open Studios)

          - Exhibitor at Patchings Art Festival, Notts.

2018 - 'The Artist' Competition Exhibition, Patchings Art Centre, Notts

          - Stotfold Watermill Summer Exhibition, Beds

2018/17/16/15/14  -  Ayot St Lawrence Art Show, Herts

2017 - Herts Open Studios, Hitchin, Herts
​
         - 'The Artist' Competition Exhibition, Patchings Art Centre, Notts

         - HVA Spring Group Exhibition - New Maynard Gallery, Welwyn Garden City

         - 'Living Crafts' HVA Stand, Hatfield House, Herts

2016 - Artist-in-residence, Herts Open Studios, Baldock Arts Centre

         - 'Up Your Street' Group Show - The Artnest, Hitchin, Herts

2015 - 'Horizons' Group Show - Nude Tin Can Gallery, St. Albans

2013 - Solo Show - Letchworth Arts Centre, Letchworth Garden City, Herts

         - Copperbeech Art Gallery, Little Wymondley, Herts

         - Group Show - Hitchin Town Trail, Hitchin, Herts

2005 - Solo Show - The Radlett Centre, Radlett, Herts

2004 - Solo Show - Questors Theatre, Ealing, West London

Member:
Society For All Artists (Professional Associate), Herts Visual Arts and The Wynd Gallery Artists

Awards:
2021 - Sponsor's Award (Consensus HR) at the BAF, Hitchin
​2017 - St Cuthberts Mill Award - 'The Artist' Competition Exhibition, Patchings Art Centre, Notts

TV:
'Wildcard' participant in Sky Arts 'Landscape Artist Of The Year 2016 and 2017'

Gallery: The Wynd Gallery, Letchworth Garden City
Web Galleries:
Painters Online and Etsy