In the early days, my Dad developed his B&W photos in the dark, in our living room. Later, I took to taking and developing my own B&W photographs, but very much with design and focus in mind – and still do. 

My introduction to ADAS was a pastel demonstration by Christopher Assheton-Stones. Intrigued, I joined the society in 1995, (very much an art novice), and took various distance and local evening courses as well as learning greatly from other members. First exhibiting with ADAS in 2006, I continue to show in various local Cumbrian exhibitions. 

Today, while I rarely work ‘en plein air’, I paint and draw whatever catches my attention or imagination, often using my photos as an aid and a jumping-off point. I’m drawn to subjects that have an ‘atmosphere’ or sense of mystery and enjoy using whichever medium seems appropriate at the time. Consequently, as a life-long “jack of all trades and master of none” I might use anything from graphite to oil or charcoal to watercolour.