Biography

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 traveling 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 do of course enjoy many other farm yard animals as subjects, and there is often a pig or sheep on the easel too!

The most important thing to me is capturing the personality of the animal. Most of my paintings are done in a portrait style to enable me to get close, and hopefully help the viewer see their character. Being outside with the animals is probably more enjoyable than painting for me. When I can stand at a fence and get licked by a cow for no apparent reason, or when I can have piglets chasing each other around my ankles it makes me appreciate the gentle , intelligent and inquisitive nature of these animals. This is what I tend to focus on 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
The Calder Gallery, Hebden Bridge, England
BAD, Bakewell, England
Eye on Art Gallery, Indiana, United States
Gallery Top, Rowsley, England
The Mall Galleries, London, England
Cloud Gallery, Chester, England

Short-listed for the David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year 2011

2nd prize Art in the Gardens Celebrity Portrait Competition 2010

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