An interest in drawing was encouraged from an early age which helped in securing a career, following a rare opportunity to join a local locomotive manufacturing company.
Using a drawing board for 20 years greatly influenced the development of my detailed style, working freelance as Draughtsman and Engineering Designer for all the major rolling stock manufacturers whilst my spare time was consumed with painting for pleasure. This work evolved gradually into employment as Project Engineer and ultimately Project Planner before taking the plunge into painting full time.
Whilst painting for pleasure from childhood I studied at Burton Art School and have experimented with a variety of mediums before settling on watercolour.
Nearly 20 years ago I left the midlands and moved my family to live in France whilst working for Eurotunnel. It was during this period my combination of architectural appreciation and detailed representation came together and resulted in a number of private commissions on a variety of subjects.
We eventually settled in Kent from where I currently exhibit regularly with the Folkestone Artists Cooperative and the East Kent Art Society.
I usually make a few sketches and take several photographs of a subject or scene to assess its’ suitability, which features to accentuate and which to ignore before I decide what to include.
I prefer to use the panoramic format when there are so many interesting buildings or characteristics all working together that to exclude a feature or a complete building would not be doing the picture justice. It would be like doing a jigsaw but leaving out the last piece.
On average I take approximately 120 hours to complete a panorama.
My favourite artists include Edward Wesson and Fabrice Moireau.
My favourite architectural styles are the Arts & Crafts and Gothic Revival movements, in particular the work of architects Edwin Lutyens and Philip Webb.