I came to ‘fine art’ painting late in life, having spent most of my career as an illustrator.

Commercially I’ve drawn thousands of images using a wide variety of techniques. Before the days of computers I spent a long while as a ‘pastiche artist’ – painting in the style of the Old Masters; then there was a period of scraperboard work: emulating woodcuts & the creations of Bewick and Durer. Latterly I’ve done a lot of scene recreations for historic houses and castles and also design work for the Royal Mint.

I’ve illustrated and promoted everything from leading brands of beer and cheese to haemorrhoid cream.

My ‘fine art’ subject matter was initially wilfully surrealistic.

Having always worked ‘to order’ for so many years I wanted to create pieces which were mysterious, ambiguous & without defined meaning.

More recently I have been tending towards visionary landscapes – greatly influenced by the work of Samuel Palmer and William Blake.

My approach to technique is variable and idiosyncratic.

There is no particular formula or procedure I follow – I’m always experimenting. I often use pencil, oil paint, acrylic and oil pastel in the same artwork (being careful that one doesn’t dissolve the other!)

My training as a scientific & medical illustrator means I can tend toward the overly finished and precise, using the smallest brushes when big chunky ones might have been better. In recent years I’ve been using oil pastels as part of the mix which give a lovely grainy look to the finish.

My greatest desire is to develop a style which is individualistic and recognisable.

I have only recently moved to Richmond, having spent many years in the Southwest of England. It’s a very beautiful place – but I’m still finding my feet (artistically & literally)!