Originally from Essex, I attended an art foundation course at Braintree college after finishing school. This was the start of my art education, an important year, being introduced to all forms of art and design, visual theories, materials and techniques, allowing me to explore and discover which discipline I would like to pursue.
I undertook a BA(Hons) Graphic Design degree at the London College of Printing. Which subsequently evolved into a career in branding and branded packaging for over 35 years, working and living in London, Amsterdam and more recently here in Yorkshire. My career has lead me to work on a wide variety of brands from the small start ups, to the established global brands in markets across the world.
Until summer 2024 I worked full time at Taylors of Harrogate, within the marketing department, leading an in house design team looking after their brands visually (Yorkshire Tea, Taylors coffee and their International tea brand). However, after eight years at the same company I needed a change so once I stopped at Taylors I got back into painting and print making. In effect, I wanted to get back to the analogue, something more tangible.
Upon reflection it was a reaction to the current revolution in the visual arts we are undergoing. I was trained in the last analogue era of design but adapted and evolved as the digital revolution took hold. We learnt ’on the job’ as it were. Right now we find ourselves on the brink of another visual revolution. After a career working using digital tools, I longed to re-engage again with texture, mark making and composition. I realised how important it was to me, giving time to think and reflect during the process.
Following many years in the commercial art world where you work to a brief and channel all your creativity into trying to make a consumer feel a certain way about a brand or product, I now find it a release now simply to create for myself and to respond to the issues which concern me. I just try to be as honest as I can in terms of my visual expression of an idea.
In essence, I feel my work is more of a reaction and an exploration of ideas. A personal visual articulation and reaction to the rhythms and challenges of today's world. Exploring the cyclic nature of the human condition. I endeavour to visualise the tension between change and the status quo, whilst also appreciating the balance and value of tradition and modernity.
We are all now facing unprecedented change but more crucially it is the speed, and sheer volume and scale of the change which will cause a huge amount of disruption to many human lives. How we cope and regulate this is really the question of the age.
