A very long time ago I realised that although I lived in a northern industrial town, if I looked up I could see beyond the streets and factory chimneys to distant hills and green fields and I became curious…

I remember bright yellow sunlight breaking through the steam and smoke from the red-hot coals of a mighty engine, black clouds set against the reflected sun on wet grey slate roofs. Terrifying dark skies contrasting brilliant light on the fells, made me want to shout, “Look at this everybody, quick, before it vanishes!".

I love the idea of the “sublime in art”, the “awe and wonder,” the power of nature and the drama of the landscape, best when viewing the landscape from high ground, the interaction of the land and the sky, where they meet and disappear, the lost and found edges in their infinite weave, connecting threads of ancient field walls, roads and tracks, the idea of past, present and future interwoven stirs my soul.

This is why I paint

I don’t often sketch in situ as it takes up too much time, but I do take pictures to remember the shapes. But my head and heart carry the drama of the mountains and valleys, the hills and moors home, to the studio. 

My acrylic and mixed media paintings start life with vigorous bold strokes, and I try to keep that energy as I tame and edit the work until it speaks back to me.

I have lived, worked, exhibited, won prizes and sold widely in the Yorkshire Dales, London, the USA and France.

I now live close to the great wild landscapes of Exmoor and Dartmoor.