About Me
I was born in 1972 and grew up in the village of Rookhope. I now live and work in the market town of Stanhope, another six mile further down the Wear Valley, in the North Pennines of County Durham. I live with my long term partner, Helen and our son, Chester.
I have been a professional artist since 2000. My subject matter has always been on a rural theme, but in the last 15 years, Ive specialised more in sporting wildlife, along with other wildlife of our uplands and dales.
Growing up and exploring the countryside, helping on my uncle's hill farm and grouse beating in the summer holidays, gave the foundation for my interest in natural history. At school age, when I first started drawing my own images of birds and farm animals, I remember being totally absorbed and fascinated by the illustrated Ladybird books, “What to Look for in Spring, Summer …”. They were full of beautiful countryside pictures by the artist Charles Tunnicliffe. These books have inspired many a budding artist.
“I have gained a reputation as being one of the foremost current painters of British sporting wildlife. I find myself to be very fortunate to be making a living, combining my love of wildlife and capturing it in paintings. I would still do it, regardless.”
My own work is now widely collected, both in the UK and abroad. I have gained a reputation as being one of the foremost current painters of British sporting wildlife. I find my self to be very fortunate to be making a living, combining my love of wildlife and capturing it in paintings. I would still do it, regardless.
I work in water based gouache paint, which best suits my style of detailed work. My aim is to capture a moment, frozen in time, conveying the feeling of being there.
There are so many wonderful things that I want to paint, with a never ending choice of lighting, narrative and backdrops. I am very excited by what is still to come.