about me
Biography
Art wasn’t something I just discovered. It has been a part of my life from a very early age. My mum has always been passionate about painting and my dad has enjoyed a career as an Opera singer.
I was born in Scunthorpe, England in 1980. I painted and drew throughout my childhood but went on to study accountancy, achieving my degree in 2002. After experiencing the business world for a few years, I decided that this was not the life for me. I then spent a period travelling Europe, before settling in Southern Spain and it was during this time that I began to pursue Art as a possible career path.
Hence I am essentially a self taught artist. My first paintings were of African sculptures and were sold at a local market in Spain. It was here that I began to take portrait commissions. Later, inspired by the scenery in Spain, I began to paint contemporary style landscapes, which helped me to get acquainted with the medium of oil paints. I sold over one hundred of these landscapes and seascapes worldwide.
In 2005 I returned to England, settling in Sheffield. The focus of my work changed again at this point, as I became inspired by the Peak District and in particular it’s inhabitants! It was purely accidental that I stumbled across some cows whilst out photographing the landscape. It was also my first real encounter with these animals, hence I didn’t know whether to run away or offer them grass! I soon became very fond of cows and they became my most common subject. I have since branched out from cows, discovering other animals as subjects and am always seeking new inspiration to broaden my artistic horizons.
Recently I have introduced figurative paintings to my work. I always try to capture the person or animal as I see it. I think there is some comical element to a lot of nature and I try to highlight this in many of my paintings.
My work is mainly sold in the UK and USA but I also have collectors in Japan, Thailand and Australia.
Galleries that have shown my work include:
- Evoke Gallery, Sheffield, England,
- Hanson Gallery, Northern Ireland
- Dogwood Galleries, Lexington, United States
- Ryan Gallery, Las Vegas, United States
- The Priory Gallery, Bridlington, England.
My painting "Curiosity" was used to advertise
"The Coleworks Studio"
CD cover artwork for band Mojostripe
In July 2008 I discussed my artwork in a radio interview
with Gillian Wiseman on Siren 107.3FM
I am recognised as an emerging talent on artist showdown