I was born and grew up in Northern Ireland and moved to Colchester in Essex in 1993 to research a PhD thesis in Politics at the University of Essex.
I have now lived in Colchester for a little over twenty years. During this time several things have happened including the award of my doctorate in 2000 and, perhaps even more significantly being diagnosed the same year with dyspraxia and Asperger Syndrome at age 40.
Not long thereafter I decided to take up painting. I attended art classes at Greyfriars and Wilson Marriage Adult Education colleges in Colchester and have developed my own distinctive style.
Painting mostly in acrylics, my work is bright and light, playing with light and shadow on my subject matter...
My portfolio of work is diverse and includes:
- Landscapes,
- Still-life,
- Portraits
- Abstracts,
I have a particular knack for mixing colour, in the style of the Fauves movement artists of the early 20th century, and am influenced by the French artists of this period.
I exhibit my work regularly across Essex.
As well as being an artist, I am a qualified therapeutic counsellor and also a writer specialising in academic subjects ... in my spare time I am working on a novel.
As well as being an artist, I am a qualified therapeutic counsellor and also a writer specialising in academic subjects ... in my spare time I am working on a novel.
Not bad for somebody who scored 34 in Art in my second year at secondary school and whose report card stated that I "lacked confidence" in the subject!
