More recently a degree in Ecology has given me a better understanding of the complicated issues suurrounding conservation and a deeper desire to help. My hope now is that through the sale of my artwork I can raise money for, and awareness about the plight of the world's endangered wildlife

As an artist I am self taught and work almost exclusively in pastel.
I began sketching at an early age inspired by my passion for horses.
I moved to Lincolnshire in my teens. It was in a gallery in Grantham where I first saw the work of wildlife artist Peter Jepson. I was transfixed by his beautiful big cat paintings and would stare at them for ages (to the frustration of the gallery owner) before rushing home to try and recreate the magnificent images in my head. These sessions usually ended in disappointment! Despite this a knot of determination remained, fuelled by the odd "good leg" or "decent nose" and so I continued to try...

Up to the age of 27 my life continued parallel with my art. I tried a lot of different jobs eventually settling (nearly) into the role of secondary school Biology teacher in West Yorkshire. I had always sold odd pictures and held a few exhibitions but never enough to enable me to turn professional. In my late twenties a job in a gallery in Ilkley freed me from the pressures of teaching and I began to paint more seriously
I spent a year or so painting the waterfalls of Yorkshire. It was then that I realised nature is not really made up of browns and greens. My confidence in the subtle use of vibrant colours began to grow and I found in pastels a medium with which I could cross the bridge from light to shade.

A couple of years ago, recalling the frustration of my youthful attempts at big cats, a curiosity developed. I felt I had conquered the challenge of moving water and began to wonder about my feline friends... A leopard in a tree was my first attempt to satisfy this curiosity and the result took me by surprise - I was pleased with it! From then on I was hooked, and apart from the odd commission I have painted nothing but wildlife, well big cats really!

I hope you enjoy looking at my website and I would love to hear from all artists and art lovers with your comments.