.Born in London 1949. Attended Harrow School of Art 1966-1969. Studied drawing, painting, illustration and printmaking. After leaving Harrow continued with life drawing and etching at day and evening classes. My education was enriched on the streets of London ( drawing passers-by ) and in the National Gallery ( drawing from the old masters) I went to all the exhibitions I could and drew and drew. I would draw at the zoo, in parks, on Hampstead Heath, women who would pose naked and those who kept their clothes on. Then there were the years that my friend Tony and I sat for each other- drawing into the gloom of a winters afternoon.
Many years where spent walking the streets of Hampstead as a postman, while painting away. Then I struck gold! Her name was Sarah, she was 5 foot 6 inches tall, had a great figure and liked artists! So I got myself a bride, we had two sons, but the London life was getting hard. In 2001 we moved to Devon where the urban years gave way to a love of the sea, fields and skies.
Now painting full-time, I work with oils, acrylic, oil pastel and mixed media. But of course I draw and draw. The great Japanese artist Hokusai described himself as “an old man mad about drawing”- I think that’s me as well.
Oh yes, exhibitions and stuff. There have been a few. The RA Summer Exhibition, Spirit of London at the Royal Festival Hall, Cleveland International Drawing Biennale. Solo shows at the Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn and elsewhere in London. Also various mixed exhibitions. Solo show at the Exmouth gallery. I was also a contestant on “Watercolour Challenge” on Channel 4, winning a heat in the first round but falling victim to a terrible piece of judging in the second!
I have organised many open studios, in London and Devon, taking part in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Devon Open Studios.
In 2008 I became Artist-in-Residence with The Farringdon Society of Arts, supported by Lottery funding.
I have given painting demonstrations to art societies and during the Exmouth Festival.
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