I seem to have been painting or drawing all my life! One of my first memories is holding a pencil or paintbrush. I enthusiastically copied TV characters, or real artists’ work from comics and magazines, and that was my introduction to figure painting before I eventually learned how to do it properly at life drawing classes. My small boy’s interest in Westerns later turned into a lasting interest in military history which then found further expression in rendering the colourful uniforms and events of the past as paintings.
Since those very early days I’ve also developed a real love for landscape, trees and water which I can exercise in great variety by painting scenes throughout Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds as well as farther afield. I’ve been lucky enough to paint scenes in Australia, the USA, France and some Mediterranean locations. My work covers the spectrum of landscape and figures, especially those of a military or historical nature, and on occasion also includes birds and animals, since the natural world is another source of inspiration.
The richness and permanence of oil colours gives great satisfaction but I occasionally turn my hand to using ink or water colour pencils for military figures. I find that similar effects to oil can be obtained in acrylics with only hours spent as drying time instead of the days or even weeks for a highly developed oil work. It’s a matter of personal taste for the buyer, of course, which looks best.
