I was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1916 to Scottish parents. I had a very happy childhood, thought not uneventful as I suffered with a misplaced hip joint and was confined to bed for one whole year.
Although there were no other artists in my family, we had a very comfortable and artistic home, my father having a good collection of paintings. From a very early age I wanted to paint, and encouraged by my parents, spent all my spare time, drawing and painting.
After leaving school, I first attended evening classes at a private Art School, before going on to Cape Town University to study Fine Art.
In 1950, I left South Africa for Europe, and spent 2 years studying works of Art, mainly in Italy and Greece. I returned to England in 1952 and married. Since then, I have travelled between South Africa, Spain and England - Painting portraits and holding exhibitions, between others at the Royal Society of portraits in London.
During the late 50's and 60's, I was greatly influenced by the work of Pietro Annigoni. At this time I was working on the foundations of the tempera techniques which I had studied at university. Gradually evolved an emulsion, which suits my personality and style of painting. I describe my Personal Emulsion Recipe.
In my painting, I follow a realistic tradition, being influence by the early Netherlands School, Renaissance painters and Contemporary American Realist such as Andrew Wyeth. My life is totally dedicated to painting. I am particularly interested in textures and shapes and whatever I paint is a homage to nature. My portraits are keen observations of the sitter, which reveals their underlying character.
Working in my Art Studio in Brighton
Representations
My work is represented in collections around Europe, America and South Africa. Also I have been commissioned for portraits by many institutions, universities and private individuals in various countries.
