Heavens open in Behind Painting

I've been drawing most of my life but it never occurred to me to do it professionally. Instead of pursuing my dream of becoming an artist and illustrator I went on to study Biology and then trained as an Operating Department Practitioner, which I now do full-time working for the NHS. I continued to draw a paint when I had a spare minute but it was quite difficult to find time and energy to commit to an art project. One particularly cold winter evening I picked up a sketchbook and a pencil and drew what would become the first of the 365 steps to realizing my dream of becoming a professional artist - I would sit down every day for half an hour and produce anything in a form of a sketch or a painting. Since the beginning of the '365 challenge' I've been experimenting with different media to find my own voice in the world of art. As a part of the challenge I also went to Florence to attend a portrait painting workshop run by one of my favourite artists, Cesar Santos. Following the trip, from the confinement of a dining table in the living room I moved onto renting a studio space where I dedicate time to creating during days off work. Since then I showed my work twice at Wimbledon Art Fair, participated in numerous en plein air events, and took part at a group exhibition at Putney Arts Theatre. And I'm not planning on stopping there. I just love to draw and paint whatever inspires me at the time, whether it's a favourite landscape, a person I've met, or something entirely crazy from my head. Some days I just can't wait to get on with the next project. I hope you enjoy my art as much as I do making it.