Artist statement
Concepts
I trained as an illustrator in a large college of art, where painting overlapped to some extent. In consequence, I believe I am an illustrative painter, producing mainly representational work, reacting to people, place and circumstance. I began by being more interested in people than place, but over the years I have become equally interested in architecture and environment.
In 2003 I had an exhibition at Norton Priory which explored the link between the priory and pilgrimage. My paintings, which were mainly of Norton priory, together with some other sites connected with Christianity, became a personal pilgrimage for me. I discovered a link between Norton priory and Bardsey Island, a place of pilgrimage for countless people over the years. When I was asked to join a group painting their personal connections with Wales, the pilgrim route down the Lleyn Peninsula (which I know well) seemed the obvious choice for me. So these represent most of my latest paintings.
Influences
The way I paint and the subjects I choose have been influenced by a training in illustration. I was attracted to the work of John Piper, his paintings of churches and landscapes, and those produced during his time as an official war artist. I have also been influenced by the religious art of Georges Rouault and by the work of Egon Schiele. I am interested in townscape and architecture.
Career path
I studied at Stockport School of Art and Birmingham College of Art, gaining ATD (Birm.), NDD (Birm.), Illustration special subject. I became a member of Manchester Academy of Fine Arts in 1968 and have exhibited annually. I have had various one-person exhibitions, shared exhibitions and exhibited in open exhibitions such as Royal Watercolours Society. I won the North West Laing Painting Competition in 1989. I have work in public and private collections.
Solo exhibitions
- 2008 Light and Candles, Norton Priory, Cheshire
- 2003 Pilgrim's Pathway, Norton Priory, Runcorn
- 1997 Paintings Exhibition, organised by Arts and Health, Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport
- 1995 Portico Art Gallery, Manchester
- 1989 Dee Fine Arts, Heswall
- 1985 Fylde Arts Assoication invitation, Blackpool Grundy Art Gallery
- 1983 Atkinson Art Gallery, Southport
- 1982 Vernon Gallery, Preston
- 1981 Bridge Arts Centre, Widnes
- 1980 Great House Gallery, Rivington
- 1980 Portico Art Gallery, Manchester
- 1979 Lantern Gallery, Worsley
- 1977 Great House Gallery, Rivington
- 1975 Lantern Gallery, Worsley
- 1974 Great House Gallery, Rivington
- 1974 Portico Art Gallery, Manchester
- 1972 Compendium Galleries, Birmingham
- 1971 Great House Gallery, Rivington
- 1971 Salford Art Gallery
- 1970 Compendium 2, London
- 1970 Compendium Galleries, Birmingham
- 1970 Tib Lane Gallery, Manchester
- 1969 Keele University
- 1969 Oldham Art Gallery
- 1968 Tib Lane Gallery, Manchester
- 1967 Stafford Art Gallery
Group exhibitions
- 2010 Art Exhibition, The Gallery, Liverpool, Liverpool (more info)
- 2008 Radius Group, Art Link, Stockport Art Gallery, Stockport
- 2008 Radius Group, Castle Park Arts Centre, Frodsham
- 2008 Radius Group of 5 artists, Theatre Clwyd, Mold
- 2006 Royal Watercolour Society Open Exhibition, Bankside Gallery, London
- 2005 Wales Rediscovered, Theatre Clwyd, Mold
- 2004 Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, Salford Art Gallery, Salford
- 2003 Retrospective 2003, The Portico Library and Gallery, Manchester
- 2002 Royal Watercolour Society Open Exhibition, Bankside Gallery, London
- 2001 Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, Bury Art Gallery, Bury
- 2000 Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, Bury Art Gallery, Bury
- 2000 Arts for Health Exhibition, Abergele
- 1999 Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, Bury Art Gallery, Bury
- 1998 Laing collection, Ginnel Gallery, Manchester, Mall Galleries, London
- 1998 Artlink, Stockport Art Gallery
- 1996 Laing Art Exhibition, Salford Art Gallery
- 1996 Laing Art Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
- 1996 Mixed Exhibition, Black Sheep Gallery, Hawarden
- 1994 North West Women Artists, Theatre Clwyd
- 1993 North West Women Artists, Wrexham Library Arts Centre
- 1993 Exhibiton of Contemporary Watercolours, Royal Watercolours Society, Bankside Galleries, London
- 1991 North West Women Artists, Salford Art Gallery
- 1991 North West Women Artists, Grosvenor Gallery, Chester
- 1990 Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, Mall Galleries, London
- 1989 Laing Collection, Ginnel Gallery, Manchester, Mall Galleries, London
- 1989 Furniture of Excellence Exhibition, Wilmslow
- 1989 Dorothy Almond Gallery, Rivington
- 1988 Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, Mall Galleries, London
- 1986 Contemporary Watercolours, Fulham Gallery, London
- 1985 Exhibiton of Contemporary Watercolours, Royal Watercolours Society, Bankside Galleries, London
- 1973 Manchester Academy of Fine Arts
- 1970 Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, Mall Galleries, London
- 1968 Manchester Academy of Fine Arts
