My Practice
"As an artist I am inspired by the atmosphere and mystery of the natural landscape, a sense of the unknown that lies just beyond what the eye can see.
Whilst exploring the space, light and colour of my landscape subjects I am happiest balancing on the thin, exciting line between the represented world of things and a more intuitive, painterly expression of rhythm and movement, both celebrating and reflecting on my connection with Gaia, our Mother Earth."
I love to explore the more remote wildernesses of Scotland’s Highlands as well as the quiet stretches of coastline on my own doorstep in the south of Scotland. In my many years as a landscape artist I have travelled much, having hiked and sketched in all corners of Great Britain, but most extensively in the Scottish Western Highlands, from the Trossachs in the south to Ardnamurchan in the west and to as far north as Inverpollaidh Forest. It was very early that I discovered the thrilling sense of discovery of new natural worlds in the mountains and glens of our national parks, places of spiritual replenishment and joy.
I studied for my Fine Art Degree at Loughborough College of art and there developed a sense of artistic language that could express my love of nature and a feeling for the innate mystery of space. In my studies I have found inspiration in the works of great landscape artists such as Jacob van Ruisdael, Cezanne, Constable and, of course, Turner, feeding off the power of feeling expressed in each of their very individual visions.
I have undertaken various jobs to complement my vocation, including helping to set up and manage a large art gallery in the artist's town of Kirkcudbright, undertaking a year's artist residency at Loughborough Grammar School and working as a self-employed picture framer for many years.
All this time I have continued to paint and exhibit my work in numerous galleries and continue to participate in mixed and solo exhibitions. My work is in collections countrywide and abroad.
A Brief Biography
Exhibition Record
Nov. 1989 - City Gallery, Leicester (Undergraduate exhibition)
Jan. 1990 - Castle Museum, Nottingham (Midlands Annual Open exhibition)
June 1990 - Smiths Gallery, London (Graduate exhibition)
Oct. 1990/June 1991- Loughborough Grammar School (Two solo exhibitions)
Feb. 1991/Feb. 1992 - Bonhams Gallery, London (‘Painting Today’ exhibitions)
Sept. 1991 - Wesley Gallery, Rawtenstall (Solo exhibition)
May 1992 - Haworth Art Gallery, Accrington (Solo exhibition)
Sept. 1996 - Longdale Art Gallery, Notts. (Ongoing Permanent Display)
Oct. 1996 - Ferrers Arts Centre, Leics. (Solo exhibition)
Nov. 1996/97/98/99/00 - Derby City Art Gallery (Annual open exhibition)
Nov. 1996/97/99 - Leicester City Art Gallery (Annual open exhibition -
awarded the ‘Stephen George and Partners’ main painting prize
and the ‘West End Gallery’ Best Landscape prize)
Nov. 1996/97 - Patchings Farm Arts Centre, Notts. (Open exhibition)
Feb. 1997 - Rossendale Museum, Lancs. (Solo exhibition - ‘Mountains’)
Feb. 1997-Salford City Art Gallery, Manchester (Laing Landscape Competition)
Feb. 1997 to present - Bottle Kiln Art Gallery (Ongoing group and solo exhibitions)
Aug. 1997 - Gregsons Solicitors, Nottingham (Solo exhibition)
Nov. 1998/99 - Castle Art Gallery and Museum, Nottingham (Contemporary
art exhibition and auction)
Feb. 1999 - Sonny’s Restaurant, Nottingham (Solo exhibition)
April 1999 - The Studio, Plockton (Ongoing Permanent display)
April 1999 - The Riverside Gallery, Inverness (Ongoing Permanent display)
Nov. 2000 to present - The Opus Gallery, Ashbourne (Ongoing solo + group exhibitions)
July 2002 - Langwathby Primary School (‘Art Mart’ mixed exhibition)
Nov. 2002 - Lowood Art Gallery (‘Landmarks’ opening show)
June 2003 - Lowood Art Gallery (‘Essence’ group exhibition)
June 2003 - Rockliffe Art Gallery, Dumfries
June 2003 to Sept 2006 - High Street Gallery, Kirkcudbright
April 2004/06 - Glasgow Art Fair ( Mixed exhibition)
May 2004/05/07/08/12 - Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries & Stranraer Museum (‘Spring Fling’ joint exhibition)
July 2004 - Rockcliffe Art Gallery, Dumfries (‘Land, Sea, Sky’ solo exhibition)
June 2005 - Rockcliffe Art Gallery, Dumfries (‘Coastal drama’ solo exhibition)
Aug 2006 - Rockcliffe Art Gallery, Dumfries (‘Wild Landscapes’ joint exhibition)
Jan 2007 to Aug 2007- Whitehouse Gallery, Kirkcudbright
Feb 2007 - Gallery 22, Sale (Mixed exhibition)
Aug 2007 - Scottish showcase Gallery, Kirkcudbright (Permanent exhibition)
June 2008 - Greens and Blues Gallery, N. Berwick (Mixed exhibition)
June 2008 - Cairns Gallery, Peebles (Mixed summer show)
June 2008 - JKW Fine Art, Comrie (Joint exhibition)
June 2008 - Holroyds Art Gallery (Permanent Exhibition)
April 2009 - Frames Gallery, Perth (Mixed Spring Exhibition)
April 2009 - Greens and Blues Gallery, N. Berwick (Wild Places - 2 Person Show)
Sept. 2011 - Rockcliffe Art Gallery, Dumfries ('Mountains to the Sea' Solo Exhibition)
May 2012 - Whitehouse Art Gallery (Scottish Connections Mixed Exhibition)
June 2012- The Catstrand, New Galloway (Spring Fling and Solo Exhibition)
May to Dec. 2013- Life's Little Ironies, Whithorn (Mixed group Exhibitions)
Jan. 2013 onwards- Online Art Galleries - Artgallery.co.uk / Saatchi Art / Singulart.com / Artfinder.com
April 2014 - Resipole Art Gallery (Ongoing display)
May 2015- Whitehouse Art Gallery (Sea Themed Mixed Exhibition)
June 2015- Whithorn Story Visitor Centre (Solo Exhibition)
June 2015- Stranraer Museum (‘Collected and Collectable’ Mixed Exhibition)
July 2015- Ross Gallery, Stranraer (‘A Gathering’ Mixed Exhibition)
June 2016- Unit 3 Art Gallery, Wigtown (‘Landscapes’ Group Exhibition)
July 2016- Broughton House, Kirkcudbright (Solo stand in Art Fair)
November 2016- Stranraer Museum (Open Exhibition)
December 2016- Tollbooth Art Centre Kirkcudbright (Open Exhibition)
May 2017- Stranraer Museum (“What an Eye!” Mixed Exhibition)
June 2017- Ottersburn Art Gallery, Dumfries (Mixed Exhibition)
April 2018- Ottersburn Art Gallery, Dumfries (Spring Fling ‘Place’ Exhibition)
June 2018- Glentrool Gallery and Gift Shop (Mixed Ongoing Exhibition)
Sept. 2018- Ottersburn Art Gallery, Dumfries ('A Scottish Journey' Solo Exhibition)
July/Aug. 2020- Whitehouse Gallery, Kirkcudbright (Summer Exhibition)
Aug.2022-April 2024- The Old Bakery gallery, Newton Stewart (Mixed Exhibitions)