I came late to painting seriously after a career in London in biomedical research and becoming a successful artist was the realisation of a life-long passion.  Living in Devon and especially in Holne on the edge of Dartmoor, has given me the opportunity to work towards this aim and has enabled me to merge my love of art and nature.  My subjects are found mainly during walks on Dartmoor but also in other parts of the south west and I am always on the look out for new ideas and images which catch my imagination.  I always take a camera with me as there is no time for sketching while walking but I can always return to the chosen subject on another occasion to refresh my memory. 

 

I have had no formal training other than ‘A’ level art but have had the benefit of some good tutors in the early stages of my art career and for this I am grateful.

 

I am presently painting panoramic Dartmoor landscapes mainly with acrylic paint supplemented with oil pastels, pens, pencil and any natural elements I can find such as moorland grasses and sand.  I prefer a ‘hands on’ approach and use fingers, rags, sponges, sticks and any appropriate implement which suits the purpose.  I apply paint to the canvas after a preliminary application of texture forming materials, building up the painting by degrees.  These landscapes explore the less frequented and wilder areas of the moor and using acrylic paint with texture enables me to convey this wildness to the viewer.

 

My other current series of paintings evolve in a similar way but they are smaller, painted on canvas paper and are often oil based mixed media rather than acrylic.  These explore the more intimate aspects of the Devon and Cornwall landscape, expanses of flowers through the seasons, hedgerows, trees, stone walls and other finer points of the countryside.

 

Changing my way of thinking after being educated as a scientist has not been easy.  It has been necessary to let go of one life and develop another and gradually scientific training has had to give way to a more artistic way of thinking.  I did not expect the emotional involvement which I find necessary in conceiving and developing a painting and the subject has to be one with which I have some personal connection.  Luckily Dartmoor is literally on the doorstep!

 

 

I came late to painting seriously after a career in London in biomedical research and becoming a successful artist was the realisation of a life-long passion.  Living in Devon and especially in Holne on the edge of Dartmoor, has given me the opportunity to work towards this aim and has enabled me to merge my love of art and nature.  My subjects are found mainly during walks on Dartmoor but also in other parts of the south west and I am always on the look out for new ideas and images which catch my imagination.  I always take a camera with me as there is no time for sketching while walking but I can always return to the chosen subject on another occasion to refresh my memory. 

I have had no formal training other than ‘A’ level art but have had the benefit of some good tutors in the early stages of my art career and for this I am grateful.

I am presently painting panoramic Dartmoor landscapes mainly with acrylic paint supplemented with oil pastels, pens, pencil and any natural elements I can find such as moorland grasses and sand.  I prefer a ‘hands on’ approach and use fingers, rags, sponges, sticks and any appropriate implement which suits the purpose.  I apply paint to the canvas after a preliminary application of texture forming materials, building up the painting by degrees.  These landscapes explore the less frequented and wilder areas of the moor and using acrylic paint with texture enables me to convey this wildness to the viewer.

My other current series of paintings evolve in a similar way but they are smaller, painted on canvas paper and are often oil based mixed media rather than acrylic.  These explore the more intimate aspects of the Devon and Cornwall landscape, expanses of flowers through the seasons, hedgerows, trees, stone walls and other finer points of the countryside.

Changing my way of thinking after being educated as a scientist has not been easy.  It has been necessary to let go of one life and develop another and gradually scientific training has had to give way to a more artistic way of thinking.  I did not expect the emotional involvement which I find necessary in conceiving and developing a painting and the subject has to be one with which I have some personal connection.  Luckily Dartmoor is literally on the doorstep!

 

 

I came late to painting seriously after a career in London in biomedical research and becoming a successful artist is the realisation of a life-long passion.  Living in Devon and especially in Holne on the edge of Dartmoor, has given me the opportunity to work towards this aim and has enabled me to merge my love of art and nature.  My subjects are found during walks on Dartmoor and in other parts of the south west and I am always on the look out for new ideas and images which catch my imagination.  I always take a camera with me as there is no time for sketching while walking but I can always return to the chosen subject on another occasion should I need to refresh my memory.

 

I have had no formal training other than ‘A’ level art but have had the benefit of some good tutors in the early stages of my art career and for this I am grateful.

 

I am presently painting panoramic Dartmoor landscapes using mainly acrylic paint supplemented with oil pastels, pens, pencil and any natural elements I can find such as moorland grasses and sand.  I prefer a ‘hands on’approach and use my hands, rags, sponges, sticks and any appropriate implement which suits the purpose.  I apply paint to the canvas after a preliminary application of texture forming materials, building up the painting by degrees.  These landscapes explore the less frequented and wilder areas of the moor and using acrylic paint with texture enables me to express this mood.

 

My other current series of paintings evolve in a similar way but they are smaller, painted on canvas paper and are often oil based mixed media rather than acrylic.  These explore the more intimate aspects of the Devon and Cornwall landscape, expanses of flowers through the seasons, hedgerows, trees, stone walls and other finer points of the countryside.

 

Changing my way of thinking after being educated as a scientist has not been easy.  It has been necessary to let go of one life and develop another and gradually scientific thought has had to give way to a more relaxed artistic approach.  I did not expect the emotional involvement which I find necessary in conceiving and developing a painting and the subject has to be one with which I have some personal connection.  Luckily Dartmoor is literally on the doorstep!