My art education was at Hornsey College of Art 1955 - 1961. From then until
1985, when I commenced painting full time, I combined painting with teaching art
on a part-time basis. I also worked as a freelance illustrator for books and
magazines. I have exhibited in many mixed shows and staged more than 20 one-man
exhibitions in galleries in Yorkshire, the Lake District, Devon, Hertfordshire
and London. I don't set much store on excessive verbalising about the visual
arts so I will limit myself to giving a brief outline of my work. If these
pictures communicate to the viewer, bearing in mind the vagaries of personal
taste and artistic education, then there is little need for an extensive
descriptive narrative. This selection of my work represents three main styles.
At first glance they might seem separate but in fact they overlap
chronologically and many of them have been painted during the same period.
The first 12 pictures in egg tempera have a symbolic content largely taken from
childhood memories. The motif of the view through the window is a useful one for
exploring the inner and outer worlds. My overall aim in these pictures is to
evoke a quiet contemplative atmosphere.
The second stylistic group is the
product of imaginative explorations making use of mixed media. The symbolic
content is stronger, the colour more expressive, while the inspiration comes
from diverse sources.
The third group is a representative sample of my Yorkshire
landscapes. I have been painting the landscape of the Dales for more than thirty
years. During this period I have sold many hundreds of these watercolours. A
selection can currently be viewed at the Riverside Gallery, Buckden, Wharfedale.
North Yorkshire.
The very last page on this web site gives details of my latest
book. It is a true tale and very readable.
