BIOGRAPHY
“As an Artist I find the human face the most interesting subject to paint. In all my portrait works to date I have attempted to capture that one moment in time, using my favourite medium, Oil Paints paying great attention to the detail. I bring a level of realism to my works that I hope will make the viewer look longer at the subject, the colours used and the brush strokes and thus provide their own narrative.
I am continually experimenting with different techniques and subject matter in each work I undertake and to this end I feel my work will continue to evolve and develop as I progress on this long journey I have committed myself to.”
Originally from Manchester, England, I moved to New Zealand in 1975 and then here to Sydney in 1993, now living in North Manly on the Northern Beaches.
I have always had a great interest in Art and in 1992 I was able once again to take up the brushes with the aim of becoming an accomplished portrait artist. Firstly with the tuition of a few local Sydney Artists and then being influenced by the works of some exceptional portrait artists I set off on my journey. To date I have produced works of Landscapes, Cityscapes, Abstract and Still Life, but my favourite subject has to be the portrait.
I have entered Australia’s foremost Portrait Competition, The Archibald Prize, some five times now, achieving success as a selected finalist in 2010 for my portrait of Australian Icon, Kate Ceberano. My portrait of popular Australian Actor Rebecca Gibney was a selected Finalist in the Portia Geach Prize 2011. In 2008 my portrait of Guillaume Brahimi was selected for the Archibald Prize Salon des Refusés.
I held my first “Solo” exhibition of my work, “People, Places and Other Things”, in September 2009 in Sydney.
In 2013 I moved into my studio at Underground Artspace in Balgowlah working in a lovely environment alongside many other Artists. In June 2015 I am involved in a group exhibition, “EMERGE” to be held at the Warringah Creative Space. North Curl Curl.
For a four year period I had an involvement with the “Kids Rehab” Unit at the Children’s Hospital Westmead, Sydney by way of the Annual Emerald Ball, as an Auction Item offering my skills to paint a Portrait for the highest bidder. As such I am pleased and very proud to have helped raise over $75,000 towards this department, meeting some lovely people along the way.
I have many of my works hanging in Private Collections in New Zealand, England, Romania and Australia.
I am continually experimenting with different techniques and subject matter in each work I undertake and to this end I feel my work will continue to evolve and develop as I progress on this long journey I have committed myself to.
I love to paint faces! In all my portraits I try to capture that one moment in time that shows the character and warmth of my subject.
I paint my portraits in a realist style although I am equally challenged yet liberated when I paint other subjects, with plenty of paint and pallet knives being used.