The human face and figure are endlessly fascinating.
Though we live in a photographic age, I still believe in the power of art to truly get to the heart of a sitter. The meditative act of studying a person for hours or even days can bring something really magical to the surface.
'The Drifters'
Oil painting on board
2023
16 x 20"
Not for sale
From the film 'My Own Private Idaho' (1991) with River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves.
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Painted for my 2023 exhibition: 'Catching Light'. A further exploration of fire (following on from my bonfire night series), this time combined with portraiture. I'm always looking back to the old masters and I certainly had Caravaggio in mind here for the strong sense of light and dark.
Self-Portrait
(age 30)
Oil painting on board
2024
​18 x 14"
Not for sale
My most recent self-portrait from life. I tend to do at least one every year, usually in a fresh medium or style. The intention is just to keep honing my craft but I'm sure one day I will be glad I recorded my likeness changing.
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Working from life is an essential practice. There's a depth that emerges as time passes and the natural light shifts.
Lianne La Havas
Oil painting on board
2023
​18 x 14"
Not for sale
Oil portrait from a photograph of the brilliant singer-songwriter, Lianne La Havas.
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Another one from my 2023 'Catching Light' show; at the time I was testing how close I could get to the qualities of the old masters. When I came across the photo​ reference for this picture, I couldn't resist attempting my own version of Vermeer's 'Girl With a Pearl Earring'.
'Tom Reading'
Charcoal on paper
2014
​10 x 8"
Not for sale
A sketch of my dad from life - just a ten minute impression.
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This was exhibited in The Mall Galleries for The Pastel Society's annual show. It was a landmark moment for me at the age of 21 to have my work shown in London. The experience also assured me that there was value in my quick sketchbook studies.
'Followers of Caravaggio'
Oil painting on board
2023
​18 x 14"
Sold
Strangers at the 'Beyond Caravaggio' exhibition, featuring 'Annunciation to the Shepherds' by an unknown master. I have always loved seeing the effect of a picture within a picture.
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In my teens and early twenties, the main London galleries were immensely important to me in a building a connection with great, timeless art. As I study the paintings, I can't help turn to the living models walking around them with equal curiosity.
'Champion'
Charcoal on paper
2021
​20 x 16"
Not for sale
From the film 'Champion' (1949) with Kirk Douglas.
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An exercise in contrast. I watch a lot of classic films and oftentimes an image jumps out that I think will make good drawing practice.
'Out Cold'
Charcoal on paper
2021
16.5 x 24"
Not for sale
Another picture inspired by the film 'Champion' (1949) with Kirk Douglas.
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I don't know a lot about about boxing but it makes great material for movies and paintings. Some of my favourite artworks of all time are George Bellows' awesome boxing scenes. Inevitably, I found myself working on this tribute.
'The Set-Up'
Charcoal on paper
2024
13 x 17"
Not for sale
From the classic boxing film 'The Set-Up' (1949) starring Robert Ryan.
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The lighting for these dramatic scenes really brings the action to life, making compelling imagery to study from. It's also an interesting challenge to find the right balance of motion blur to keep a sense of aliveness.
'Brawl'
Oil painting on long canvas
2021
12 x 31.5"
Sold
Additionally, I worked on a series of rugby pictures, culminating in this panoramic canvas using black oils. I find the clash of figures and faces to be rich subject matter for painting.
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The images we regularly see in sport strike me as the modern equivalent of battle scenes. The tumbling bodies and dramatic actions bring to mind the kinds of compositions we once would have seen in war paintings and biblical art.
'Slow Dance'
Oil painting on board
2023
​18 x 14"
Not for sale
From Charles Burnett's beautiful film 'Killer of Sheep' (1977): an important piece of cinema for me as a teenager, introducing me to more documentary-style, understated storytelling.
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This simple scene of a married couple dancing in their home left an indelible mark on me. Burnett only gives us a brief glimpse in on their lives, and I find that paintings follow the same pattern - showing only a fragment of a larger story.
John Byrne
Acrylics on board
2024
11 x 14"
Available
From a documentary about the Scottish artist John Byrne I happened to catch one evening on BBC Four.
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​I hadn't used acrylics in a while and it was interesting to see how my approach had changed since working more frequently with oils. There's a looseness developing my in painting style, focused more on tone than tight detail.
Egon Schiele
Charcoal and acrylics on brown paper
2019
​8.5 x 5.5"
Not for sale
An imagined portrait of one of my art heroes.
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There's a playful spirit in Schiele's work, burning bright in his all too brief life. I feel beyond lucky to be able to learn from all of the work left behind by the masters. Much as I revere these great artists, it's also simply fun to mess around with them.
Jeff Beck
Charcoal on paper
2018
​16.5 x 12"
Not for sale
Reworking the cover image for 'Blow by Blow' (1975).
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Often I find myself thinking in musical analogy instead of looking exclusively to visual arts. Jeff Beck's ability as a guitarist represented everything I admire in any artist. He is regarded as one of the true greats - able to do anything with his instrument but tending to favour simplicity.
Peter
Oil painting on board
2023
​10 x 8"
Not for sale
A portrait of my dad's dad. He died when Dad was very young and I know so little about him. Working on a portrait can be a strangely enlightening process though, where it feels that you get to know a person on a deeper level.
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Here I was using a small black and white source photo but I like to try less literal colour palettes. ​​Instead of greys, I chose to paint in indigo.
Bond
Soft pastel on brown paper
2021
​11 x 8"
Not for sale
Using a screenshot of Sean Connery in 'From Russia With Love' (1963).
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Exploring a similar style to vintage film posters. I love all kinds of illustration; continually testing various types of drawing helps to inform my whole practice.
Lara
Charcoal on paper
2021
​7.5 x 5.5"
Not for sale
From David Lean's 'Doctor Zhivago' (1965).
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A young Julie Christie​ as she first appears in the film. It's interesting how much the eyes alone can make the portrait.
Harry Styles
Oil painting on board
2023
​13.5 x 9.5"
Not for sale
A gift portrait from a photo of Harry Styles in concert.
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I have some experience using watercolour for my illustration work but it is less represented in my fine art portfolio. Watercolour works really well for portraiture though, and I intend to work on more soon.
Self-Portrait (age 26)
Charcoal on grey paper
2020
​23 x 16.5"
Not for sale
I created this self-portrait study in the middle of the night, with limited light available to see the paper I was working on. Challenging myself in this way unexpectedly led to a deeper understanding of tone, as I couldn't see any details on my drawing.
Self-Portraits (age 27)
Pencil on paper
2021
​12 x 9" (x3)
Not for sale
To mix it up a bit, I wanted to record myself gurning in the mirror. I still pull faces whenever I look at myself and it only seems right to represent that less self-serious side.
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Too few portraits make full use of the range of human expressions. I love the creativity of Rembrandt's varied self-portraits for this reason, and also the remarkable self-sculptures of Franz Xaver Messerschmidt.
Portrait sessions at 142 Gallery
For different days I tried different media: charcoal, pastels and oil paint. When there's just an hour to finish a portrait, it forces you to make quick decisions. These sessions have particularly helped me to feel more comfortable working spontaneously in oils.
I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to take part in several live portrait painting/drawing sessions at 142 Gallery, Felixstowe.
Similarly to the format of 'Portrait Artist of the Year', there would be a handful of individual artists portraying the same sitter. On average, the duration for each sitter was an hour, so there's no time to hesitate. It is intimidating at first, but there's no substitute for this direct practice from life.
