Spring clearing in Forest Fawr Print

First of all I am an artist. I graduated with a BA Degree in Visual Communications from West Midlands College of Higher Education in 1983 having done my Foundation course in Art and Design at Birmingham Art College in 1979/80. Since then I have made my living largely as a graphic designer and a photographer working in public and private sector organisations. I was born and bred in a small village in South Wales called Taffs Well. There, with the help of an excellent art teacher called Mrs Clay, I learned to draw and paint. Inspired then by the beauty of landscape I looked beyond the industry that surrounded me to the forests, hills and fields beyond. I was something of a nature boy. The village was industrial as was most of South Wales at that time. I felt somewhat oppressed by the industry, heavy industry such as coal mining, quarrying, iron and steel and the railways. I lost myself in great art and dreamed of being a landscape painter myself one day. Raised wonderfully by my mother alone I was encouraged to follow my passions. Together we visited Cardiff Museum and Art Gallery where I discovered the Impressionists and Rembrandt. Then we went to London to the National Gallery where my eyes were opened by Constable, Turner, Claude Lorraine, Monet, Renoir and many more. My love of painting was set and I worked hard at my own skills. Years later, having eked out a living designing books and brochures, becoming a 'pre-press' expert, running a litho and digital print company and spending a few years in marketing I have come back to my love, painting. I am now a full time artist and am developing my skills still. Married, with two grown up children and two grand children I love and value life. I know the value of hard work and I love experimenting with subject and style in my work. I hope one day to paint a masterpiece but in the meantime I try to improve with each painting I make. I will not categorise myself as a traditionalist, impressionist, conceptualist or whatever. That is the job of the viewer. I choose subjects that I feel deserve my attention at the time and I paint with a love of colour and composition and a desire to see produce beautiful pictures.