During the week I work in architecture and planning. As a result I spend a considerable amount of my time engrossed in the built environment, working quite precisely with computers to technical standards. My paintings reflect my escape to nature. An excuse to get out, take photo’s and do something creative. I paint animals and wildlife almost exclusively, because I love the idea that when you encounter something wild that moment is something no one else has or will ever experience.

I’ve lived in Yorkshire most of my life and have deep roots here with family never straying far. My grandad Bill was responsible for an interest in birds, with hours whittled away as children at nature reserves and bird gardens, to see a red kite was to strike gold. He’s no longer with us but his love for the outdoors and nature definitely is.

The UK is so depleted of it’s wildlife, birds are often the only contact people have with nature, my recent series aims to paint overlooked birds in portrait form to give overlooked animals a bit of gravitas.