Royal Scottish Academy, Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour

1928 Born in BradfordStudied at Ilkley Grammar School
1948-55 Obtained a National Diploma in Design at Leeds University and a DA at Edinburgh Colleges of Art
1956-88 Taught Drawing & Painting at Edinburgh College of Art
1982 Elected a Member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour
1987 Elected an Associate Member of the Royal Scottish Academy
1988- Run an annual course on Seabird Drawing at North Berwick
1989-92 External Examiner for Natural History Illustration at the Royal College of Art
1991-96 Elected a Board Member of Artists for Nature
2000 External Examiner for Natural History Illustration at the Royal College of Art
2005 Elected a Member of the Royal Scottish Academy

My work is rooted in landscape, as a concept rather than as a view, and in the living birds and animals as they are part of it. I aim to show how creatures move and have their being and to express the visual delight they bring. I work from life.

Solo Exhibitions:
2008 Waterston House SOC Gallery, Aberlady
2005 The Rockcliffe Gallery, Dumfries
2001 The Wildlife Art Gallery, Lavenham
2000 Major Retrospective, Bradford City Art Gallery, Cartwright Hall
1996 The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
Artists for Nature exhibitions in Holland, Spain, USA

I work in traditional media: watercolours, pastels on paper and oil on canvas. In the field I first use a sketchbook, adding watercolour if time and location allows. If not, I use written notes about tone and colour values. I like to stay with a subjec,t watching all aspects of behaviour and interaction, waiting to see what happens. In the studio I develop the gathered material, exploring compositional possibilities and expressive use of paint. Sometimes I have several ideas on the go. I try to combine accuracy with artistry.

‘Land Marks & Sea Wings’, Lavenham, 2005.
‘Nature Drawings’, Arlequin, 1993.
‘Birds in Mallorca’, Helm, 1988.  
‘Drawing Birds’, RSPB, 1986 (revised 1993).
‘Gannets at Herma Ness’, film for Scottish Television.
Over 35 titles by other authors, and contributions to many more.