Between the Lines

Your background bridges commercial design and fine art. How did your early career in London shape the artist you are today?

My artistic journey actually started with a degree in Graphic Design, which led me into the fast-paced world of London advertising. I spent six years working as an Advertising Art Director across various agencies in the city. That experience taught me a lot about structure, visual impact, and composition. Following that, I dedicated 35 years to teaching Art and Design, which kept me constantly engaged with different techniques and ideas. Today, as a member of the East Kent Art Society and MAHL, all those decades of looking at, thinking about, and teaching art feed directly into my studio practice.

Your work clearly draws from early 20th-century avant-garde movements. Who are your biggest artistic references?

I am heavily influenced by Cubism, Futurism, and Vorticism. I look closely at how pioneers like Cézanne broke down nature into structural forms, and I am drawn to the bold, dynamic lines of Percy Wyndham Lewis, John Piper, and Edward Wadsworth. I like to bring that sense of structured energy into my own interpretations of the world.

Walk us through your creative process. How does a painting come together for you?

My paintings develop over a period of weeks. I begin out in the world, collecting sketches, plein-air drawings, and photographs. Once I am back in the studio, the real work begins. I don't just copy a photograph; I use a mix of my sketches, memory, and imagination to build the image.My preferred medium is acrylic, which allows me to work in layers. I paint, overpaint, and leave glimpses of previous layers exposed until I am completely satisfied with how the different sections interact. It is a constant dialogue between adding and stripping away.

Your subjects alternate between the rugged Welsh coast and East Kent. What draws you to these specific locations?

I am captivated by contrast. On one hand, I love the sweeping coastal landscapes of West Wales. On the other, I am fascinated by the busy, structure-heavy harbours of East Kent—with a particular interest in the vibrant, colourful harbour of Whitstable. They provide the perfect geometry for me to explore shape and colour.While I primarily focus on acrylic studio paintings ranging from small 200mm squares to large canvases over a metre wide, I also enjoy experimenting with monoprints, oils, watercolours, and even mixed-media sculpture.

Your work is now held in private collections worldwide, from New York to Hong Kong, but you are currently returning to a very familiar place for your local audience. How does that feel?

It is incredibly special. My very first artworks were sold at the Horsebridge Gallery in Whitstable. Exhibiting across galleries from West Wales to Windsor and London has been wonderful, but returning to the Horsebridge feels like coming back to where it all started. I still sell original work, take commissions, and make prints and cards, but showing my art right next to the harbour that inspires me is always a homecoming.