Here you'll find my work (just click on the images to see a larger version) along with brief descriptions of the work and how it came about.
Artists statement
"I have always loved painting wildlife. I believe I did my first wildlife drawing at the age of 8 (you can see it, and a selection of my early work by following the link below). These days, I try to capture a feeling or vibe in the paintings that depicts some of the character of the animal as well as creating a beautiful piece of work to look at.
I always paint animals I have seen and try to spend some time with them in an attempt to get to know it enough to do a painting."
Art History - See my old work
As with the Red Panda and the Golden tamarins inspiration for these came from Marwell Zoological Park, as you may have realised I go there quite a bit. I tried to create an atmosphere with this piece; I'll let you decide which one.
We saw these wonderful little animals on a trip to New Zealand, full of character and here is my attempt to capture some of that as well as the sense of diving in to the depths of something...
We have a privet hedge in our back garden that quite often is home to a large number of sparrows who peer out from it in to the garden and thus was an idea for a painting born. A painting that took a long, long time to complete, but it got there in the end.
Actually seen in Kenya after doing the last Bataleur Eagle piece, I had to do another..
A group of Red Deer we saw in New Zealand that I thought typified their watchfulness.
Done a long time ago as an experiment to see what it would be like to paint straight on to unprimed canvas, and recently updated this piece attempts to capture a little of the nobility of the Bald Eagle.
A follow up to the Bald Eagle experiment, this piece took the idea a lot further and lead to many pieces in a similar style.
A predominantly pencil work with a dash of watercolour. We've been lucky enough to have this juvenile Greater-spotted Woodpecker with us regularly since it fledged. As you can see, it is starting to acquire its adult plumage.
The first time I saw these was in Marwell Zoological Park. They are pretty secretive animals, or maybe just lazy, so it took a while before I actually met one! When I did I was impressed with their agility so decided to do a picture capturing that.
After more changes than a Chameleon crossing a patchwork quilt, the Nuthatch is finally finished. It feels good to get there and I'm more than pleased with the results. I started with a much larger piece but when it was nearing completion I realised the rest was a waste, so cut it right down.
Golden Lion Tamarins: Oil 32"x33" (framed)
I fell in love with these animals when I first saw them at Marwell Zoological Park, a number of years ago, and have wanted to paint them ever since.
Mute Swan: Oil 32"x20.5" (framed)
Swans are one of the most beautiful birds and have a kind of mysticism to them, along with just a hint of an edge.
Bateleur Eagle: Oil 36.5"x23" (framed)
To be honest, I took a photo of this eagle at the Hawk Conservatory Centre, and loved the way it looked so much, I had to paint it.
To be honest, I took a photo of this eagle at the Hawk Conservatory Centre, and loved the way it looked so much, I had to paint it.
Sand Cat: Oil 19"x23" (framed
I spent a while studying these wonderful creatures in Marwell Zooilogical Park and they spend 90% of their time ralaxing. As a result it had to be a reiaxed painting.
I spent a while studying these wonderful creatures in Marwell Zooilogical Park and they spend 90% of their time ralaxing. As a result it had to be a reiaxed painting.
Swallowtailed Moth: Oil 23"x20" (framed)
Sometimes, it can take a while to decide what to do next. As I was pondering this one evening, whilst cleaning my teeth, this chap flew in through the window. Problem solved.
Sometimes, it can take a while to decide what to do next. As I was pondering this one evening, whilst cleaning my teeth, this chap flew in through the window. Problem solved.
Northern Hawk Owl: Mixed 18x31.5 (framed)
Whilst studying at the National Bird of Prey Centre in Newent, these guys were always the most awake and used to stare down at me whilst I was sketching them as if they knew my soul and didn't really like what they saw.
Whilst studying at the National Bird of Prey Centre in Newent, these guys were always the most awake and used to stare down at me whilst I was sketching them as if they knew my soul and didn't really like what they saw.
Mute Swan: Ink 12.5"x11" (unframed)
An early example of my love of swans. This one showing the more traditional image of graceful movement, through graceful water.
An early example of my love of swans. This one showing the more traditional image of graceful movement, through graceful water.
Kestrel: Ink 10.5"x11" (unframed)
Crowned Lemur: Ink 10.5"x15.5"
During a trip to Madagascar, I was lucky enough to see these in the wild, although not for long enough to get the camera out let alone the sketch pad. So, I had to wait until I went to the Zoo in the capital Antananarivo to get the chance to draw one.
During a trip to Madagascar, I was lucky enough to see these in the wild, although not for long enough to get the camera out let alone the sketch pad. So, I had to wait until I went to the Zoo in the capital Antananarivo to get the chance to draw one.
Another old piece that has been updated to bring it up to the required standard. I originally saw this Gibbon at Blackpool Zoo back in 1995.
The original flower was found in a field in Lancashire and the painting was completed in 1994, this piece belongs to a previous era of my work.
Undoubtedly the most time I have ever invested in a painting this was a winning competition entry in 1996. It depicts a vast number of different flora and fauna that is found in the oak forests on the west coast of Scotland.