Boats at Blakeney Painting

I was born in England of Irish parents in 1960, growing up in and being influenced by the cultures of both England and Ireland. I worked for many years as a children's book illustrator and author. Currently I manage an illustration agency looking after the projects of around 25 artists. I've had over one hundred and fifty titles published, recent books being George and the Dragon, Craig's Crocodile and Ella's Games. I've illustrated authors such as Dick King-Smith, Jacqueline Wilson and Tony Bradman. I regularly visit schools and libraries and work with children on books and drawing. I enjoy teaching and have created courses in drawing, painting and writing childrens books. I enjoy visiting local art groups and run life drawing classes for adults. My main subject is the nude and I draw and paint from life whenever I can. As an illustrator a model is used for reference to help convey the desired figure. As an artist the process of working with the naked model becomes the essence of the nude picture. The connection, the relationship, the mood of the session impact upon the naked art and resonate in the final image. I prefer to paint directly from life to experience the presence of the model. This demands working quickly before the model tires and the gesture of the pose is lost. Gesture is the magic quality that we respond to and very important in my work. Light is also important to me, revealing the fragile and transient beauty that fills us with sadness at the same moment as it fills us with pleasure.