Inspiration
I am primarily a landscape painter and it is wild country which inspires me the most. In such places, where there is a strong sense of atmosphere and light, I feel a close connection with nature. I enjoy the challenge of seeking out new subjects and the effort required to reach them. Often, though, some unexpected effect of light will leave me spellbound. It is these moments especially that I try to catch and hold in my paintings.
Background
Both sides of my family were artistic or creative, so I grew up surrounded by art. Our home always seemed to be filled with the smell of paint and turpentine, with paintings in every corner. As a child I was always drawing, painting and making things. However, at school I was encouraged to follow an academic path. Consequently, I went into a career in science. At first it seemed exciting and interesting, but soon became repetitive and dull. My creative nature was crying out for an outlet. Around this time I had started having more holidays in Scotland, my mother's homeland. Increasingly, as I walked in the mountains in all weathers, I felt the need to recreate the sensations I was experiencing. This proved to be a turning point in my life. I realised that painting wild landscapes was what I wanted to do.
Method
I like to work outdoors as much as possible, where I have an immediate response to the subject, and many of my smaller paintings are completed in front of the subject. At other times, especially when the weather is wild, I make sketches in pencil or watercolour to work from indoors. I also use photographs, but I find that sketches are far better for imprinting the subject in my visual memory. There is also the whole sensory experience of working in such conditions, which hopefully will have some impact when I am working on a larger painting back in the studio.
For many years I worked exclusively in watercolour, which I find ideal for painting the damp atmosphere of the Scottish Highlands. However, more recently, I have been using acrylics as well. I find I enjoy the textural effects which are possible with the thicker medium. I think that the two contrasting working methods also help to keep my work fresh.