For me, a painting begins with captivating light. With a decent eye for composition any scene can then become the basis for a painting. It’s not so much photo-realism I’m after as something a bit looser and more expressive. I’m trying to capture a feel of what made me stop and paint it in the first place. Ultimately, I’d like my paintings to be as much about a place as of it.

Not just places, I should say, although it’s landscapes that tick a lot of my boxes. I’ve always loved the outdoors, especially when I can walk, cycle or run in it and hopefully that comes through in my work. One complements the other, since many a painting begins with a scene snapped during some sort of outdoor activity, whether it’s cycling over a mountain or strolling through a city. In that way, I like to think I have a tiny connection with the 19th century impressionists, who were so obsessed with outdoor light.

Much, though certainly not all, of what I present here is based on scenes in or near where I live and work in Loughborough, Leicestershire. I’ve recently also added portraits, including pet portraits, to my repertoire.

Once a full-time teacher, I’m now an artist and that can feel pretty full-time some days too. Even as a teacher I always found a little time for art, drawing semi-regularly for a number of commercial magazines, illustrating articles and readers’ stories. Painting, as a more time-consuming business, had to wait until I was done with teaching. That was six years ago and since then I’ve worked at my painting most days. Taking training with accomplished artists such as Jo Shepherdson, Dan Scott, Richard Kitson and Robin Perko my style has evolved and continues to do so. I recently completed a year on the Emerging Artists programme with Charnwood Arts, Leicestershire, and now exhibit at a range of venues within the county.