ARTISTI have always been talented in Art form an early age I can remember my Primary School fete at age 9 where I was set up as a portrait artist at a stall--which became very popular and made my school a few pounds! at six - pence a go!! At Secondary School my talent was spotted my my art teacher who encouraged me to go to St Martins Collage although I was accepted I did not want to spend 3-4 years there so did a 2 year diploma at Kingsway collage as I was eager to make my talent pay!My first job was a small publishing company where I started as a paste-up artist and markerIllustrator , which I enjoyed but needed more variety as I had studied Ceramics,Textiles, Photography, Printing, Painting, Art history and Graphic Design.Any Artist will tell you there are no -JOBS- in Art you have to follow your dreams on your own.My works have taken contemporary and modern art to a new dimension. My work started in the traditional way, portraits and landscapes. At that time i was influenced by Artist such as Valesques and Goya. But as my free and loose style developed i became more occupiedby the pattern and juxtaposition of colour and form, and was interested in Blake and RothKo.Now i see how my work in graphics has had a subconscious influence on me and am interested in reflecting our world and news in my time.I use a computer to simplify and posterize it.This gives it a newspaper or magazine look. This helps me paint it quickly - my tonal and quick stroke suits this style. This supports that instant news idea-- then move on to the next, as with news in today's environment.The content is not made to shock, that not my first goal. What I want is to reflect today's news in a way that adds the concerned part, The part that make it Art and twice as potent I have always been sensitive to what people feel and are thinking. People may well find my work offensive but if I was to suppress these views I would be censoring myself and my rights to the freedom of expression.My work is instant and hits you direct-- just as it Is in ads, papers,and media.Some is humorous andSome amusing , political, religious or funny but always controversial.
