Artistic Statement

I was born in Durham and grew up in a mainly mining area. Some family and relatives worked at the mines. After many years as a coach painter and sign writer I went back to college and studied as a graphic designer. I became interested in art at an early age through my grandfather, a miner himself and a very good artist. I stopped my art for a number of years to help raise my children. I am now at a point where I can take up my art again. My themes are strongly based on growing up in the 1960's.

My work is based around childhood memories. It is remembering the games of marbles or the washing hanging in the street, chalk marks for a game of Hopscotch which would remain on the path for weeks after. Jack the Jack Russell dog is now a main feature in all my work. I use tones of grey oil paints with a touch of colour. the object is to convey a sense of times past, and a nostalgic atmosphere.  I feel its a way of writing a story using a brush and some happy memories.