Spring Oak, evening light. Painting

I was always drawing and painting from a very young age and had very supportive teachers who encouraged me to go to Saturday art classes in Guildford, Surrey when I was around 12. I was probably the youngest there but I loved the environment, we had great teachers, who encouraged us to go out drawing and painting. I think looking back it was the one of the most inspiring times. After that, I did a Foundation year at Farnham, followed by a BA Hons Degree in Visual Communication and a Masters Degree in Illustration. I was a professional illustrator for over 20 years working with clients in the Uk and USA. Any subject I paint has been inspired from my experience and emotion felt at the time. I try and convey that in the work through colour and brushstrokes, so whether it’s worked en plein air or in the studio, I hope to bring this emotional connection to the viewer. As well as using sketches and photos, more recently I have been taking short videos. This can really help when I’m back in the studio to reconnect me to a location. Having sounds – like the wind, the noise of swaying branches and leaves etc adds another dimension when working on a painting.