my journey into oil painting

Early beginnings

As a child, I used to spend my free time drawing. I would use my imagination to create stories by drawing cartoon characters and copying from animal books. Horses were my favourite subject, often with cowboys in the saddle shooting the bad guys. However, there were no thoughts of ever becoming a real artist.

Everything changed when I was approaching ten years old. My parents inherited a painting from a great-aunt which turned out to have been painted by a famous artist, Abraham Solomon, 1824-1862. The subject was a nun looking heavenward and praying which had a certain irony because, as I discovered in later life, my great-aunt was a lady of the night who married one of her wealthy clients.

The painting was hung on a wall facing the top of the stairs. To my parents, the picture was just a decoration, but I was so fascinated by it that my interest in portraiture grew exponentially. I would sit on the landing, gazing in awe at the beseeching eyes and skin tones that made the painting come to life. It didn’t take long before I started sketching with a licked pencil to capture the image. I really enjoyed the process, and the praise I received had a profound effect, which inspired me to become a portrait artist. I had no idea how to go about it other than attempting to draw family and friends. Although the line work left much to be desired, at least my subjects were recognisable.

I drew a picture of the nun that still exists somewhere, but I haven't been able to find it yet, or it would be on this page. Unfortunately, the actual painting was sold because my family needed the money.

Art college

It was not an easy journey for me to become an artist, due to various obstacles. Firstly, my school wanted me to focus on obtaining a more 'legitimate' degree. It was only after my father spoke firmly to the headmaster that they finally relented. Secondly, I was rejected by two art colleges. Thirdly, my portrait work was not considered artistically relevant at the time. After finally securing a place, I faced three years of harsh criticism, which eventually wore me down and shattered my confidence. As a result, my hopes of making a living as an artist faded away. Fortunately, my desire to be creative didn’t die altogether.

Design

Well, if you don’t have a relevant degree to secure a job as a commercial artist, just tell prospective employers that you have. At least, that was my approach, which worked because no one asked for a certificate. To say I was in at the deep end is an understatement. However, being a novice on a pitiful salary bought enough time to learn about how things were done.

Business

I never had any ambition to make oodles of money, nor did I see myself as an entrepreneur. It was just that after becoming a freelancer, a client offered to bankroll a company. Contrary to my expectations, this turned out to be a very successful endeavour.

For twelve years, I worked incredibly hard to service demanding clients whilst managing a growing workforce. Eventually, the late nights and pressure took their toll, and my body succumbed to illness. And behind it all, my failure to become an artist ate away at my mind. 

It took five years to make a full recovery, during which time I confronted my demons. Why had I spent so long running away from my life purpose? The answer was complex, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to run anymore. What really helped was my wife’s stoicism and support. She valued my happiness way above money and gave me the push I needed.

Artist

Boy, it was hard to get started. In the first two years, I earned a grand total of not very much. I constantly questioned the quality of my work, and I had a lot to learn about painting techniques. After putting in the hours and discarding many pictures, I finally received my first paid portrait commission. Unveiling the finished piece was a scary experience. Fortunately, the client coughed up and was either genuinely happy or they had poor eyesight!

Fast-forward to today. Painting still life now occupies as much of my time as portraits. I love both and recognise how lucky I am. After all, how many people have a thirty-second commute to the office, drink tea by the gallon, and listen to loud music while working? My little dog is always by my side, watching me paint. A scratch behind the ears is all it takes for her to wag her tail in approval.

Music and writing

I started playing the guitar many moons ago and discovered I have a half-decent voice. Now, I write songs and perform at the occasional folk venue. Aspirations to become a successful musician have never materialised, mainly because I’m not good enough, and besides, art will always be my first creative love.

Writing is a new part of my life. It began during lockdown when I decided to attempt a novel just to see if I could do it. Hard work doesn’t come close to describing what it took, especially when I already had a day job. Late nights, a thesaurus and a patient partner who brought food and wine to keep me going finally paid off.  

After self-publishing the first book, the writing bug took hold, and I have now finished my second novel, with a third nearing completion.

What next?

Nothing very different, that’s for sure. We live close to the river in Ross on Wye, which is surrounded by stunning countryside. My portrait clients are mostly on the doorstep in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire. My still life paintings sell in the UK, Europe and America, and I regularly exhibit in galleries. Material belongings aren’t high on the agenda because my wife and I are content with our lifestyle and we are blessed with two fabulous sons. Not forgetting Bindi our dog, the best friend an artist can have.

So, I’ll write a few more novels and keep painting until the great studio in the sky opens its doors.