Many of my paintings begin with captivating light, that’s usually what made me stop and look. From there, I think almost any scene has potential as a piece of art. Not so much a photo-real depiction, hopefully something a little more expressive. I’m always trying to capture a feel of what made me stop in the first place.
For me, it is primarily landscapes. A lover of the outdoors as somewhere to walk, run and cycle, that’s where most of the inspiration comes from, whether cycling over a mountain or running along an urban canal.
That’s not to say I can’t be distracted by other projects, however. I enjoy the challenge of a portrait, for example, possibly because there are no hiding places – it just has to be right! And don’t get me started on cartooning!
Once I was a schoolteacher and just did a bit of art in whatever spare time I could find. After leaving teaching in 2018, I threw myself into painting and sought training from a range of accomplished artists like Jo Shepherdson, Dan Scott, Robin Perko and Richard Kitson. In 2022 I took the Emerging Artists programme with Charnwood Arts and since then I have exhibited and sold at a range of venues around Leicestershire, where I live.
It’s no longer just about my art either because I found that I still enjoyed teaching it. I’ve now developed a number of different art courses and experiences, all of which have been well received. If you’ve read this far then, who knows, perhaps I’ll meet you on one some time soon!