I have been working full time as an artist since 1998. My work can be described as representational in an impressionistic style, but I don’t seek to paint popular views or chase narrative within my work. Instead, I look for alternative views of the landscape, arranging striking compositions, playing dark against light, and introducing you to pattern and shadow. I also aim to connect with my audience on an emotional level, often drawing attention to elements of a subject that go unnoticed. Most of my work is sourced from the Yorkshire hills where I live. I work on site with sketches and photographs, turning them into paintings back in the studio. I also work plein air when time and weather allow. I’m quite a spontaneous and energetic painter, preferring to start and finish a painting in one session. I work mostly in watercolour but also enjoy the freedom of acrylic, which I combine approaches from both watercolour and oil techniques. I have been teaching painting for 25 years and I have written four books, contributed to numerous others, and written many articles for art magazines. In 2023 I was elected a member of the Royal Institute Of Painters In Watercolours.
EXHIBITIONS
2001 - 2014 Solo exhibitions, Harrison Lord Fine Art, West Yorkshire
2013 Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, London
2015 Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, London
2017 Patchings Art Festival, Nottingham
2018 RI Annual Exhibition, London
2020 RI Annual Exhibition, London
2021 RI Annual Exhibition, London
2021 World of Modern Watercolour, Moscow
2021 TALP Open, Patchings Art Centre, Nottinghamshire
2022 RI Annual Exhibition, London
2023 RI Annual Exhibition, London
AWARDS
Holmfirth Artweek 2013, Best in show
The Artist’ award Patchings 2017
Canson Award, Patchings 2017
The Artist Purchase Prize 2021
The Artist Award, Patchings 2021
Chaoshan Watercolour Award, RI Annual Exhibition 2022
BOOKS
Watercolour for starters (D&C) (Author)
30 Minute Landscapes (Walter Foster, USA) (Author)
30 Minute Landscapes in Watercolour' (Harper Collins) (Author)
Landscapes in Watercolour (Crowood Press) (Author)
Watercolour layer-by-layer (Walter Foster, USA) (Contributor)
101 Top techniques (D&C) (Contributor)
Complete Watercolour (Quarto Press) (Contributor)
The Encyclopedia of Watercolour Techniques (Search Press) (Contributor)
POSITIONS
President of The Halifax Art Society
Member of The Royal Institute Of Painters In Watercolours