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About me

After an Arts degree from Queen's University, Belfast, and career in teaching English, it was not until retirement that I had time to indulge and re educate myself by taking an Art History degree at Leeds University. Obviously this concentration on the marvels of the world of imagery sparked an interest in "having a go" myself, a pleasure which has gradually developed from an entertaining hobby, into something of an exciting and enriching preoccupation. I have exhibited at Penrith Art Club Show for each of the last five years and have enjoyed twice successfully taking part in the Cumbria Art Open Studios event. I have taken courses with The Open College of the Arts and private lessons with painters whose work I admire, gradually evolving a loose style in which I seek to express my joy in the beauty of my adopted county of Cumbria, and of my 'spiritual' home county of Donegal, Ireland. I like to think of my work as a homage to the great Colourists of the early 20th Century whom I admire for their expressive line and joyous colour.

About my paintings

I generally work to a fairly small scale, most pictures being around 40 by 30 cm, so when framed or mounted measure 45 to 50 cm. Framed pieces are priced between £60 and £120; unframed, mounted work is priced between £30 and £60. Any proceeds go to the charity "Educate for Change" which seeks to improve the life chances of Ugandan orphans - see www.educateforchange.org.uk.

Most of my pictures start out with watercolour, which I then enjoy enhancing with Indian and Acrylic inks. The "happy accidents" which this technique inevitably produces often give me a new and exciting direction in which to develop the work. A few dried weeds in a jam jar can end up as an image altogether more exotic.

I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoy producing them.