ON THE ROAD  

Painting has become to me such an important and enjoyable way of recording what I see – whether that be walking the dog at dusk or an early morning ramble through the medina in Marrakech – that I can no longer imagine life without it. My painting journey started when a couple of wonderful trips to Ithaca and around the islands of Croatia prompted me to pick up my brushes. The results of that work were contained in an exhibition at the Jonathan Cooper Gallery at the end 2022. That featured paintings from Devon, Mull, Morayshire, Ithaca and Croatia.  In March I will be exhibiting paintings from Devon, Cornwall, Shropshire, Mull, Morayshire, Morocco, Andalucia, Ibiza and Ithaca at the J M Gallery on the Portobello Road in London. 

Many of my favourite artists have painted that infinite variety of combinations of light, landscape and sky, and, though I should probably be braver and broaden my scope, I derive so much pleasure from being in the heat, the cold and the wet, in different places and at different times of day and year, and trying to find the means to express what I see and feel with pigment, brush, paper and water, that it is in those landscapes that I happily remain. 

Throughout my life I have recognised that I wanted more from the natural beauty I encountered. I was aware that swimming in a glorious bay, loch or river, climbing a hill, hiking through wilderness or simply walking the dog brought something more to what I saw, but, sadly, there is not always time for those activities that bring that sense of possession and involvement. Painting my response to the beauty that I encounter has given me another way of getting that sense of involvement and it has become highly addictive. 

The physical beauty of this abused and too often taken for granted planet is under such constant threat that I hope that my efforts may have some value, not just as a personal record, but that I can help to open more than just my own eyes to that beauty.  

There are many of us who try to capture the loveliness that we witness and I make no claim to particular or remarkable skill in my efforts. All I can say is that they are mine and I hope you enjoy them.