Background

I am a Manchester / Cheshire artist working mainly in oils and acrylic and based at AWOL Studios in Ancoats. I have a background as an architect in England and The Middle East and I have been a visiting design tutor at the Universities of Cardiff & Liverpool.

Faces and figures provide me with most of my material. The fascination of portraits, for me, is in the way that a tiny dab of pigment can completely change the expression or personality of the subject. Even the simplest portrait is rich in meaning and can instantly convey impressions of age, intelligence, background, mood, tastes....... I try to capture some of that but it's also good to have ambiguity: something unresolved.

There is a simple joy in vibrant colours and part of my enjoyment of painting is finding ways - sometimes excuses - to use them. Some artists plan their work in great detail but I like to get something down quickly and then work it and rework it: pushing the paint around until something clicks.

I hope you find something to enjoy in my paintings.

My recent exhibitions / awards are:-

* Royal Scottish Academy Exhibition 2021
* Jellicoe Gallery Summer Exhibition 2017
* Discerning Eye Exhibition, Mall Galleries, 2016
* Shortlisted for JOAP prize 2016
* Colourfield Gallery Award winner 2015
* SAG Members Exhibition 2015: winner of
Portrait Award
* Shortlisted for Bankley Open Award 2015
* Funky Aardvark Gallery award, Chester 2015
* Grosvenor Museum Open Art Exhibition 2015
* Macclesfield Open Art Exhibition 2014
* SAG Members Exhibition 2014: winner of
People's Choice award
* Waterside Open Arts Exhibition 2014
* CGP London Open 2013