About

I consider myself fortunate to have studied at Bournemouth & Poole College of Art & Design (now AUB) at a time when special importance was placed on drawing. Drawing from observation was seen as fundamental in developing visual thinking and learning about design in general.

I specialised in creating paintings as 'Environmental Design' typically painting murals as large scale canvases for specific locations. The largest of these was 16ft long, for a library location. Other public commissions include a large oil painting for a local solicitors.

These paintings are usually carried out in oil on board and often developed from line drawings, though ideas can come from anywhere. There is always a focus on formal considerations such as shape, rhythm and structure.

Rather than simply make a drawing or painting of the subject, my aim is to focus on an idea of the subject - whatever it is that strikes me as significant or extraordinary, often an idea of shape or pattern. This gives the work an element of abstraction

I spent too many years working commercially(!) - as an illustrator and designer for giftware companies, a decorated tile manufacturer and an advertising agency. For a number of years I also created on-the-spot portraits at outside events, mostly around the south of England, but also in Australia.

Nowadays I travel a lot with my sketchbook, and husband, often to interesting locations making pencil studies, and leaving nothing behind me but pencil sharpenings. Otherwise, my favourite place to be is in my studio in Poole developing drawings into paintings.
Trustee for Poole & East Dorset Art Society (PEDAS).
Member of Bournemouth Arts Club