I grew up in Swansea and was the ‘arty’ one in a family of intellectuals and was encouraged by them to develop this aptitude.  Visual inspirations were the industrial landscapes of the post-war city, contrasting starkly with the near by beaches and the Gower Peninsular.  Always practical, I completed a Foundation Arts Course at Swansea Art College and found myself drawn to applied arts and design. I went on to study Three Dimensional Design to degree level at UWE in Bristol and then worked in domestic, commercial and retail interior design.  A love of fine detail made the process of producing technical drawings and visuals a satisfying and rewarding career, although I also continued to sketch and paint. The development of computer aided design and visualising tools presented new opportunities and I incorporated some of these techniques into my art.

Since moving to the Brecon Beacons a few years ago the dramatic environment inspired a need for more creative involvement. Joining a local art group helped me reconnect with observational and interpretive fine art and illustration. I like to experiment with a variety of mediums; water colours, gauche, pastels and inks. Ever the obsessive detail observer, I am branching out towards a bolder and more impressionist approach to my work.

Through attending an exhibition of print work by a local artist, Lesley Lillywhite, I became interested in wood block printing, developed from linocuts I enjoyed producing years ago in school. I enjoy the process of working with the tools to evolve an image from an initial sketch. The variability of how the end result will print is both a challenge and a pleasure.

Most of my subjects are taken from nature and the landscape of the surrounding area, but I also enjoy the intimate aspect of portraiture and producing an image that reflects the individual personality of the sitter.