My Early Years
Born in Dublin and having spent my early years in rural County Carlow, my family for want of a sustainable future, in the late 1950’s, emigrated to England.
We came to live in Birmingham, where I went to school until I was sixteen, had one or two girlfriends, and eventually met the love of my life and married her.
My formative years were very much shaped by my working class upbringing. The qualities of responsibility, sensibility, practicality and work being valued highly. Despite my artistic inclinations, and ever mindful of the need for a sustainable income, I chose a career as an engineering apprentice. This wasn’t a repudiation of my artistic inclinations, but rather a desire to pursue my genuine interest in making and constructing things.
Throughout all this time I continued drawing and occasionally painting…
My Early Years
Born in Dublin and having spent my early years in rural County Carlow, my family for want of a sustainable future, in the late 1950’s, emigrated to England.
We came to live in Birmingham, where I went to school until I was sixteen, had one or two girlfriends, and eventually met the love of my life and married her.
My formative years were very much shaped by my working class upbringing. The qualities of responsibility, sensibility, practicality and work being valued highly. Despite my artistic inclinations, and ever mindful of the need for a sustainable income, I chose a career as an engineering apprentice. This wasn’t a repudiation of my artistic inclinations, but rather a desire to pursue my genuine interest in making and constructing things.
Throughout all this time I continued drawing and occasionally painting…
My Career
From my early days as an apprentice I progressed through various companies and roles to eventually ones of managing and directing precision engineering companies.
Following a number of years in management consultancy, I semi-retired so as to pursue less cerebral activities, and finally my desire to be an artist!
My Career
From my early days as an apprentice I progressed through various companies and roles to eventually ones of managing and directing precision engineering companies.
Following a number of years in management consultancy, I semi-retired so as to pursue less cerebral activities, and finally my desire to be an artist!
My Art Journey
Ever since my young adult years I’ve attended various art classes at night schools and colleges. I attended numerous classes in portraiture, using graphite and Conti pastel pencils, landscape in oils, and the very specialised skill of Chinese Brush painting in ink and Japanese watercolour. I was fortunate in every instance to have been taught by first class artists well known in their speciality at the time.
It wasn’t until 2018 having decided I wanted to be an artist, that I enrolled for a three day intensive workshop at the International Watercolour Masters event with watercolour master David Poxon RI NWS. I had always admired watercolours but was fearful of its apparent immediacy. I had naturally gravitated towards detail, meticulousness and thoughtful execution. David’s workshop proved seminal to my confidence, my choice of subject matter and overall development in the medium of watercolour. Shortly afterwards I established my own studio, where I now spend as much time as I can planning and working on my watercolours.
I attended a number of intensive workshops at each of the subsequent International Watercolour Masters events and have been fortunate to work under instruction from the worlds most acomplished masters of watercolour painting.
My Art Journey
Ever since my young adult years I’ve attended various art classes at night schools and colleges. I attended numerous classes in portraiture, using graphite and Conti pastel pencils, landscape in oils, and the very specialised skill of Chinese Brush painting in ink and Japanese watercolour. I was fortunate in every instance to have been taught by first class artists well known in their speciality at the time.
It wasn’t until 2018 having decided I wanted to be an artist, that I enrolled for a three day intensive workshop at the International Watercolour Masters event with watercolour master David Poxon RI NWS. I had always admired watercolours but was fearful of its apparent immediacy. I had naturally gravitated towards detail, meticulousness and thoughtful execution. David’s workshop proved seminal to my confidence, my choice of subject matter and overall development in the medium of watercolour. Shortly afterwards I established my own studio, where I now spend as much time as I can planning and working on my watercolours.
I attended a number of intensive workshops at each of the subsequent International Watercolour Masters events and have been fortunate to work under instruction from the worlds most acomplished masters of watercolour painting.
Awards & Accreditations
My journey in art has been been encouraged by some recognition and appreciation, particularly for my watercolours, in regional art competitions.
I’ve been fortunate to have had several paintings accepted to go forward for final judging, and in one instance, to have reached the final shortlist of a national competition. This achievement being rewarded by having my painting exhibited alonside the other finalists in a leading London gallery. Additionally, workshops like the International Watercolour Masters series have been incredibly enriching, allowing me to refine my technique and broaden my artistic perspective.
I am dedicated to my artistic growth and my desire to connect with others through art.
Awards & Accreditations
My journey in art has been been encouraged by some recognition and appreciation, particularly for my watercolours, in regional art competitions.
I’ve been fortunate to have had several paintings accepted to go forward for final judging, and in one instance, to have reached the final shortlist of a national competition. This achievement being rewarded by having my painting exhibited alonside the other finalists in a leading London gallery. Additionally, workshops like the International Watercolour Masters series have been incredibly enriching, allowing me to refine my technique and broaden my artistic perspective.
I am dedicated to my artistic growth and my desire to connect with others through art.
