I started painting in the late 1970’s and have been largely self-taught except for some evening classes and a few professional courses, one of which included life drawing. Initially I worked in oils but after getting married I changed to watercolours. I returned to oil painting about 35 years ago and now only use watercolours for quick outdoor sketching. I have exhibited and sold work either through exhibitions or on commission.
Most of the time I paint landscapes, using the impressionists, tonalists and others for inspiration. My favourite painters are Gainsborough, Turner, Corot, Monet, Cezanne, SJ Peploe, Edward Seago and Mark Rothko. Apart from my home county of Northamptonshire, my favourite landscapes are Scotland, Wales and southern parts of France.
Sometimes I work on a series of paintings of the same subject. For example, I did a series of paintings inspired by a photograph I found on the web of a location in Poland (see Willow paintings gallery). Recently I have begun to extend my palette and, more importantly, to recognise the potential for subjects in the landscape around my home county of Northamptonshire.
I have used a camera since childhood and love to record countryside scenes from far and wide, and in all seasons. I often use photographs as a starting point for my paintings.