About

I reconnected with Art again years after doing A-Level at college. My pencil and ink sketches cover a wide range of subjects but, while immobilised by a serious leg injury, I found myself constantly drawing people walking. They could be hurrying, scurrying or strolling, it didn’t matter. They were doing the one thing I was restricted from. It’s a theme that has stayed with me even after I learned to walk again and if you ever find a napkin or a scrap of paper with sketches of random people walking on it, it’ll probably have been left there by me. Having had a brief taste of what it’s like, I will always have the utmost respect and admiration for anyone who has mobility issues. It just shows of course how pain, feelings, hopes, frustrations, longings and all the rest seep into what we create.

Painting has grown out of my love of taking photographs. I often use my own photos as a starting point. I don’t seek to recreate a visual copy of real life scenes (I don’t even do that with my photography!) but to capture the essence of how I feel about that scene. Each one is different; sometimes there’s a narrative, sometimes not, sometimes there’s something hidden, sometimes everything is laid bare. Always, though, my feelings are in the paintings somewhere, even if not explicit.

My photographs range from street shots to landscapes, often taken around North West England. I’m 100 per cent digital but I’m not interested in the gadgetry at all and often take shots with my Google Pixel Pro rather than a camera. The best part for me is the editing of the image. It’s my version of the darkroom and is where you imbue things with your own deepest thoughts and moods.

I love writing too. I’ve published two novels (Ghost Road, Mr. Mad) a book for children (Susan Shocks) and a novella (Joe Loss). I’ve also had short stories and articles published over the years.

I live in North West England, UK.