About Me

From Bohemian roots, to Artistic Destiny

How did I get to create paintings directly from nature?
Born in a Studio, an escape to the City and my return to Art.
I grew up in an artistic community in Bromley Kent. Mother was an artist and teacher and father an architect. We lived in a large old Victorian house, with two floors. We had a drawing office, a large art studio, a pottery and a smaller studio, known as the Shortlands Studios.

 After school, I would often wander into the pottery and grab a lump of clay to make animals or plates. They would be fired at the end of each week. On Saturday mornings, my brothers and I would join the other local children in art classes, while their parents went shopping. We had an artist in residence, Peter Midgley RCA, a tutor at Ravensbourne College of Art and Design. His studio was on the ground floor, a fascinating place for us children to explore.

With the constant comings and goings of artists, agents, students, galleries and framers, I went off to earn an ‘honest’ living in the City of London. I only returned to art in about 1990.
In due course, I began to sketch daily, and learned to use watercolours, for a number of years before venturing into acrylics and later, into oils.

Eventually I became the Secretary of our local art society for six years and later, their Chairman for three years. This gave me experience in setting up, curating and hanging exhibitions. About this time, plans were afoot to construct the Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate. Following some training, I was honoured by an appointment as a Cultural Ambassador.
In 2018 and again in 2024, my work was chosen to represent England at the Fabriano in Italiano International watercolour exhibition. Each year I hold a solo exhibition at York Street Gallery in Ramsgate, and participate in many other UK exhibitions.

After all of the above, I am loving this journey to create paintings on location, directly from real life. I try to work in the impressionist manner, mostly out doors.
The result is ‘honest paintings’ full of excitement and passion. I thus spend many hours outside, in muddy fields or boatyards, on riverbanks or beaches to observe the beauty that many others pass by un noticed in their busy lives.
Buyers say my works bring daily joy to them and their families.
Would you like to join me on this journey? Who knows where it might lead? I’d love to have your company and feedback as we journey along. Click the ‘get started’ button and leave your e-mail details, to receive the latest information, exhibition previews and special discounts, only for those on my mailing list.