I was born in the English countryside, next to a farm. It was amazing. I had a great childhood, full of adventure, creativity, play and exploration. I always wanted to be a painter, even back then.
Later, I trained in design and then in advertising. I went on to work in a design agency in London, not as a designer, but as a suit. I did this for a long long while and I loved it. But it wasn’t until I had my own kids, when a lot of things changed for me. My priorities had shifted, and it became important to do something that really mattered to me. I went back to painting.
They say ‘start with what you know’ so I started at home. Drawing and painting family, friends, and even a couple of dachshunds. Over time my work grew and I just fell in love with portraiture. There’s something about capturing a personality or a moment in time that I can’t get enough of.
This years, I’m hoping to explore larger works - full figure pieces etc.
Commissions: I still enjoy taking on commissions - I get to meet fascinating people. My process starts with a chat about what direction the portrait might take, some props or composition etc. Then I might take some shots of the subject and agree a final image before starting the piece. With adults and older children, I might even ask for a sitting where I can make some preparatory sketches.
