"Checkmates" Painting

Martin is a former firefighter and a self-taught artist. After university in 1976 he enjoyed a 30 year career in the fire & rescue service, and continued to paint as an antidote to the stresses of his operational working life. In 2008 after his retirement he committed himself fully to art and has since then been developing his technique and finding his own artistic voice.


As a painter in oils/acrylic Martin’s output can be diverse & wide-ranging. Apart from his current focus on still life it often includes landscapes & urban scenes to more figurative/abstract work and commissioned portraiture. But whatever the subject matter his painterly style is characterized by a trademark vibrancy of colour and attention to fine detail, sometimes accompanied by a slightly surreal twist.


He is a member of the Visual Artists’ Association and was previously a founder member of the Derbyshire Artists’ Guild. His work has in the past been selected for the prestigious ING Discerning Eye exhibition (2020 & 2025) and twice for the Harley Open (2020 and 2024). In 2022 the quality of his work was recognized by the Royal Academy and was selected, by Sir Grayson Perry no less, for their Summer Exhibition of that year. In 2023 his self-portrait Selfie III was highly commended by the Ruth Borchard Organisation and was featured in their virtual Self Portrait Exhibition.


Even though he is almost wholly self-trained Martin’s artwork is sought by private collectors around the world and he has secured coveted gallery space throughout the UK as well as here in his native Derbyshire where he works from his home studio.


“Martin’s work is exquisite ….. and his brushstrokes are masterful” – Salon Contemporary Arts, Derby