about

I have a studio on the side of a steep hill overlooking panoramic views of the Golden Valley, which is probably why there are so many diagonals in my paintings. And no horizontals. Or horizons.

For many years I painted only landscapes but after a trip to China in 2008 I was fascinated by the vast crowds (particularly the synchronised choreography of the Olympics opening ceremony). I therefore decided I couldn't ignore people any longer so decided to let a few into my work. At first I included a few dog walkers and ramblers but very quickly my paintings became completely overcrowded.

In 2009 I began The CrowdingAbout Series of paintings, of which there are now thirty. These illustrate crowds of people enjoying leisure activities including dancing, cycling, marathon running, exercising, sunbathing, shopping, rambling, sledging, rock-climbing…and so on. Each painting starts as an isometric drawing onto which I then paint individual people as motifs in a repeat pattern which builds up to create a human crowd. In theory, as with any pattern, these crowds could extend forever in every direction.

In the CrowdingAbout paintings there is a fine balance – or tension - between communality and individuality. On one level these crowds are an expression of uniformity - the people are all wearing the same stuff and doing the same activity - and this is what makes them work as colourful, semi-abstract patterns. On the other hand, look closely and you can see a huge variety of character, gesture and expression among them. Some individuals stand out. Depending on your viewpoint you could find these paintings nightmarish – or just seriously funny.

During a recent exhibition the press referred to me as ‘The New Lowry’ which is very flattering but although my paintings may superficially be in a naïve style they do not have any elements of nostalgia. The people in these crowd scenes are contemporary. Instead of working in mills they work in call centres and supermarkets. Instead of walking in the park they go down the gym and run on the treadmills. They live in the modern world.

In 2010 I began The HangingAround Series of prints. These are woodcuts and linocuts showing small groups of people gathered around enjoying themselves at parties, in hot tubs, book groups, life classes, making music in a pub, or in a huddle before a match. In contrast to the paintings the emphasis here is more on people sharing activities in a creative, conversational, team-bonding way. They make very popular greeting cards.

Work in progress involves two new series of small paintings: The BeingTogether Series (a couple of people lost in a work of Escheresque optical illusions) and The BeingAlone Series (single figures enjoying being alone). I am also working on some small scupltures of hoodies.

Comparisons have been made with Bruegel, Hogarth, Daumier, and of course Beryl Cook, but despite these influences I like to think that my take on the world is my own. However, like all artists who specialise in painting the human crowd I am trying to reach an understanding of that infinitely strange yet familiar species to which we all belong.



Education

1976-77 Foundation Course, Kingston University
1977-80 BA Degree: Fine Art, University of Brighton
1986-87 PGCE, Middlesex University
1996-98 MA Fine Art & Media, University of Gloucestershire


Group Exhibitions

1977 Foundation show, Kingston
1980 Degree show, Brighton
1984 The 1984 Show, Brixton Art Gallery
1989 Cotswold Connections, Red Herring Gallery, Brighton
1991 Clay Bodies, Workshop Gallery, Chepstow
1992 Melksham Court, Stinchcombe
1992 National Garden Festival, Ebbw Vale
1993 International Garden festival, Stuttgart
1995-6 One From the Heart, Aberystwyth Arts Centre
1997 Interim MA Show, University of Gloucestershire
1998 MA Show, University of Gloucestershire
1999 Ida Branson Bequest, Atkinson Gallery, Street
2004 GANET show, Guildhall Arts Centre, Gloucester
2005 Nailsworth Festival, Gloucestershire
2006 Open Studios, Oxford Artweeks
2007 Venice, Fusion Gallery, Wotton-u-Edge
2009 ByLocal, Regency Arcade, Cheltenham
2010 Firenzia, Fusion Gallery
2010 Oxford Artweeks
2010 Cotswold Craftsmen, Nailsworth

Solo Exhibitions

1983 CND Bookshop, Finsbury Park, London
1985 Foxes Wine Bar, Stoke Newington, London
1985 Clissold Swimming Pool, Stoke Newington
1986 Housing Office, Stamford Hill, London
1986 St Leonard’s Hospital, Hackney, London
1987 North Street Potters, Clapham, London
1988 Showcase Exhibition, Prema Arts Centre, Uley, Gloucestershire
1993 Clay Bodies, Prema Arts Centre
2010 Guildhall Arts Centre
2010 The Lion Gallery, Leominster

Paintings, prints and cards selling in shops and galleries throughout UK - see Links section.