I was born in Caerphilly, South Wales in 1951. After grammar school I studied at Brighton Art College, gaining a B.A. Honours degree in Fine Art from Sussex University and a post graduate Diploma in Art Education from Leeds University. I emigrated to new Zealand in 1990.

Painting has always played a major part in my life and throughout my career as a Head of Art and a National Art Moderator in UK and New Zealand.

Since 2001 I have painted fulltime and had two solo exhibitions in London and three exhibitions in New York. I signed a contract with my agent Ann Priftis in Manhatten in 2005.
I have twice been invited to participate in the Florence Biennale.

My other interests include music and theatre. I play drums in a jazz quartet called "Rothko" and I design a lot of sets for plays and musicals.
Having my own studio and gallery in a most stunning setting high on a limestone outcrop on The Pukeora Estate in Hawke’s Bay, means that I get a lot of visitors not just from N.Z. but from all over the world.

Artist Statement 2008

As a painter and jazz musician I am constantly drawn to the key elements of rhythm, pattern and movement.

In my paintings I like to explore the visual magic of colour in an attempt to balance figurative and abstract concerns.

I take my ideas on a creative journey leaning heavily on my instincts when working in the studio.

Often using bold arresting colour, I work freely and expressively on the canvas with brush, stick, fingers, pallette knife and spatula. The surface quality can become a mixture of stains, glazes, rich texture and thickly applied areas of paint.

My paintings are always based on a real experience and I invariably produce a large body of work on a personal theme.

My work is represented in collections in Europe, United States, Canada and New Zealand.

I do undertake commissions and have completed large works for Marks and Spencer and Honda UK, Barclays Bank and Sussex County Hospital.

AWARDS

British Arts Council Grant 1978 • South East Asia Arts Bursary 1980
Toronto Arts Award 1984 • Hawke's Bay Council Grant 1996 • Hawke's Bay Festival Award 2005