About Me...

Art with a Past. Stories for the Future…

Welcome to my little corner of the internet where creativity runs wild, chaos is basically a design choice and there is always more paint involved than strictly necessary. I am a part time artist on the south coast of Hampshire, living with my partner and within easy reach of the wonderfully chaotic and slightly sticky grandkids.

Close to the New Forest and the sea, I am surrounded by ever changing skies and textures, most of which sooner or later end up with an enthusiastic splash of colour on them, whether they asked for it or not.

Painting found me properly at a time when life changed beyond recognition. What began as a way to pass the time and stay calm quickly became something far more important. It turns out that picking up a paintbrush is far more effective than sitting still and attempting to relax while your thoughts refuse to do the same. Painting became my way of slowing everything down, even if only for a little while.

My work really started to take shape towards the end of 2025, while I was recovering from a heart transplant, because apparently my old heart decided it had clocked out early and was not coming back.

I had been diagnosed with heart failure in 2022 and was managing things with medication and an ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator), which is essentially a very dedicated cardiac team for my chest. For a few years everything ticked along nicely. Then came the summer of 2025, which, to put it kindly, was not my finest season. After leaving a job I had held for 28 years and bravely stepping into a shiny new one, my heart chose that exact moment to stage a full scale rebellion.

Things went downhill rather quickly and before I knew it the verdict was in. Transplant required. No gentle build up, no dramatic pause, just straight to the main event.

It was a time that reshaped everything, physically, emotionally and creatively. Somewhere along the way painting became part of how I put myself back together again, only this time with more colour, a bit more freedom and thankfully far fewer instructions than the human body seems to require.

Although I had been painting on and off for several years, it was not until I returned home from hospital in 2025 that I started to paint regularly and with real intention. What began as a quiet and gentle part of recovery soon grew into something deeper and more grounding. Painting now plays a central role in my wellbeing. It gives me space to think, or sometimes not think at all, which can be even more valuable.

My approach to painting is led by instinct rather than careful planning. I try not to overthink the outcome, which is easier said than done but far more rewarding when it works. I follow what feels right in the moment, allowing colours, shapes and textures to develop naturally. Most pieces begin with a simple base layer, but rarely stay simple for long. I build them up gradually, often through many layers, until they become something entirely different from where they started.

Upcycling plays an important role in my practice. I work with old canvases and prints that I have collected or rescued over time, giving them a new purpose and a fresh story. There is something deeply satisfying about turning something overlooked into something meaningful. It brings an environmentally conscious layer to my work, while also reminding me that nothing is ever truly finished or without potential.

Much like my paintings, and perhaps much like myself, things can always evolve into something new. I know that in a very real way. Having received a new heart and a second chance at life, I feel an immense sense of gratitude to the donor who made that possible, and I carry a quiet promise to take good care of this extraordinary gift.