Biography

Native to and working in Dumfries and Galloway, I studied History of Fine Art with Geography at the University of Glasgow after attending Wallace Hall Academy in Closeburn. Whilst at University, I also attended classes at the Glasgow School of Art.

After a career in teaching, I now concentrate on painting - mainly landscape, urban and rural, and still life. Over a period of ten years, I studied painting and drawing at Solway House Studio with Sam Mullen.  I paint landscapes and townscapes, both local and national, as well as those seen abroad.

Like any artist, there have been a number of major influences on my work. My paintings have been strongly influenced by the Impressionist / post-Impressionist movement, especially Paul Cézanne, and I have enjoyed copying a number of his paintings, understanding how brushwork and colour come together in these beautiful works.

Another influence has been the Cubists,  Picasso and Braque, and also Boccioni of the Italian Futurists.   Feininger, the German/American Cubist artist has also been an influence in his portrayal of churches and sailing ships.  I enjoy portraying natural landscapes, but also those where man has enhanced the landscape with buildings, standing stones and monuments.

At the moment I am particularly interested in the strong shapes found in the built landscape, and you can see this in the paintings of rooftops, and in the paintings of bridges in Dumfries and Glasgow.

One thing I love about art is that you never know where inspiration will come from, or where it will take you. A chance remark from a friend, a vase of flowers, a view, all can set you off in a new direction. But whatever the subject, when you start with a dull blank canvas and add strokes of colour, that is the excitement and magic of painting!