3. Who are your influences?
I'm inspired by the great masters such as Anthony Van Dyke, Thomas Gainsborough and George Romney, as well as some of the more modern day artists such as David Dipnall.
4. Where do you seek inspiration for your art?
My inspiration comes from my love of history and nature because as a child I used to visit National Trust and English Heritage properties with my parents. One of the key moments from those visits was when I was on a school trip and became aware that all the historical characters from the painting in the state rooms were looking down at me.
Those paintings really stuck in my mind and I quickly began to develop an interest in history and the paintings of the great masters. I also dreamt of having my own historical characters in my room just like the country houses had visited.
My love of nature and landscape painting only really began in 2000. I spent 3-4 years living by the coast and in the Devonshire countryside during the 1990's during which time I spent my early mornings driving through the countryside. Even when it was 5.00am, pitch black, gale force wind and rain and having to hike up a coastal path, or country lane soaked to the skin, I still enjoyed the elements.
Part of my inspiration for the landscapes comes from music. I listened to a lot of very atmospheric experimental folk music/ metal, which is very influenced by the dark side of nature. It's something that had stuck with me and I still play that music when I do some of my landscape paintings.
5. Where did your desire to become an artist come from?
I don't really know. I was always drawing for as far back as I can remember. I wanted to be like Rolf Harris as a child, however, I never really wanted to become a full time or professional artist until recently. I got too attached to my paintings at first and didn't want to part with them.
The realisation that people wanted to buy my paintings finally made me believe I could actually become a full time artist. It was around 2001 when I saw a print by David Dipnall in shop with a healthy price tag, and I thought to myself, "Yes, that’s the sort of level I'm going to have to achieve to start making some money".
