I grew up in Yorkshire and as long as I can remember I have loved drawing.
My Father was an accomplished artist and under his guidance and encouragement I developed quickly and won many national painting competitions in my youth.
My formal art training began at Bradford College of Art and later with the Famous Artists School of America under the oversight of Norman Rockwell. I have been fortunate to earn my living doing something I love during all the seasons of my life.
Art has been a gift, and it has also been a discipline. The simple act of opening my studio door and sitting down at my desk, day after day, has given me the life and opportunities I have gratefully received.
As a young man I used to run up to a hundred miles a week. That focus and attention has, in part, made me the artist I am today. You cannot be in a rush to run that distance and you cannot be in a rush to paint well.
Greeting cards have been the enduring thread to my work. Like running, the routes may have changed, but the form has remained the same.
In my early career I was an illustrator, working in-house and later freelance for brands across the world. When my wife and I had young children I would be at my desk from 6 o’clock in the morning. I finished at lunch so I could spend time with the kids, taking them out for picnics and being part of their lives.
It was a precious time and I’m proud to say they grew up on my studio floor. As they grew I took on roles at leading stationery and print companies. That part of life culminated with time spent as a Director at Europe’s largest greeting card and wedding stationery printer.
