I was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in 1959 into a working class family.
From an early age I showed an aptitude for drawing and excelled at art at the various schools I attended.
Upon leaving school I embarked on a graphic design course at Bradford Art College. I did not complete the course and took a job in a textile mill. I continued to paint in my spare time until 1980 when with the encouragement of professional painter Brian Needham I became a full time painter.
Since then I have undertaken various commissions from painting racehorses, designing logos, painting murals for Morrison’s Supermarket and many pub signs for various breweries.
Besides commissions I produce work from my imagination some of which are based on dreams.
My appreciation of art extends from the cave paintings of Altamira and Lascaux to 20th century abstract such as Rothko and Pollack. My favourite of all though is J.M.W. Turner.
When I can I love to travel and paint “en plein air” in exotic locations such as the Himalayas, deserts, and jungle ruins in sometimes trying circumstances.
I work primarily in oils but also use watercolours, acrylics and pastels.
My work hangs in diverse places from a millionaires ranch in Kentucky to a peasants shack in central India.
It is my intention to paint as long as I can see and hold a brush. At 56 I believe there is still room for improvement regarding my work.