British Realist Painter
Background
My enthusiasm for art began at an early age, during primary school l drew detailed studies of nature which was my other interest.
Spending time among reedbeds gazing into the depths of pond water at the hidden world beneath, searching for amphibians was an obsession for me.
In the school corridor where tawny and barn owls stood in glass cases and Hobbema’s The Avenue hung on the wall, l could be found creating my own world of colourful dinosaurs in poster paint on a sheet of A1 set upon an easel.
During my high school years l became aware of the history of western painting, immersing myself in the study of all the past masters from the Renaissance, Romantic, Baroque and Modern Painting periods.
My art teacher wrote in an end of year report: ‘his works show a great understanding and maturity for his age'.
I had set myself the task of learning from the masters by copying their work like a painters apprentice of long ago, to become competent in the techniques of drawing and watercolour painting, l knew that without such skills I would not be able to create my own work.
The paintings of my father on the walls of our living room were a great inspiration during this time.
He had a natural talent and was an excellent draughtsman, l always sought his advice on my own work.
My mindset was that each piece of work was a stage in learning, a development towards a higher level of understanding. An approach which still guides me today.
I studied Art Foundation at the district college which encouraged experimentation with an emphasis on ‘ideas’ rather than any specific guidance on teaching the skills needed to produce artwork, so I progressed through my own commitment to a wide variety of subjects such as urban landscape, still-life, life drawing and an interest in printmaking. I attempted oil painting for the first time with a series of monochromatic self-portraits influenced by the torn sweater photographs of James Dean.
I was accepted on an illustration diploma course where l flourished illustrating books such as The Grapes of Wrath and working to tight deadlines, an enjoyable challenge that tested my flexibility and imaginative skills, but I still preferred producing my own artwork.
I pursued my ambition on a degree illustration course with tutors that encouraged the sole study of painting. In terms of theory I researched Classicism in Contemporary Painting which also provided a basis for my own paintings, centred around portraiture and Greek Mythology. During this period in order to learn the techniques of oil painting I spent a great deal of time looking at paintings in public collections such as Leeds City Art Gallery, only then could I understand the physicality of the medium and what could be made possible through my own vision.
A few years later I gained my masters in Painting on the north coast at University College Scarborough where a resurgence of English Realism painting was taking place . After initially experimenting with painting ‘ portraits in situation ‘ I developed an approach of metaphysical concerns through the idea of time and memory, placing apparent objects of significance within suburban settings. During a study trip to New York I was able to fully realise these ideas in a series of other worldly cityscapes ( Exploration I-XII ) over a three year period in a studio l established back in my hometown of Castleford where I work today.
After a one-man exhibition of these paintings and drawings I have spent some years concentrating on Italian cityscapes such as views of Florence and Rome which reflects my ongoing dialogue with the birthplace of geometrically inspired realism.
In recent times I have begun to develop what I consider a more ‘truthful realism’ which incorporates both the passage of time and the inner reality of our consciousness, in paintings that explore the many interpretations of reality, breaking away from the restrictions of the single image concept.
With this in mind I aim to extend the language of realism painting through my own personal perspectives and ideas.
