Database -- View Entry

The entry of a selected artist from the database

Database Entry
To reach the Artist Page for the artist shown below, click on the artist's name or thumbnail image

Biography: I DO WHAT I AM. Born in 1948 I spent all of my childhood in and around Gt. Yarmouth. My childhood, which I could say a lot about, left me struggling with the realisation that the world was not “black and white”: which I believe is why I use those two tones in some of my work. Also I have a tension in me between the desire to please/conform and rebel. As a consequence much of my work is informed by the idea of chaos (rebellion/non-conformity) and control (pleasing/doing what is expected) and a kind of general duality – of which I will say more later. I was “good” at art at school and passed my O level. Before going to college I experimented with “drip painting” on wet paper – none of these survive. At college I changed my subsidiary subject from drama to art and so emerged after three years as a history and art teacher. I taught in high schools for 33 years but only taught art for the first two. I dabbled in the visual arts for years. Work on assemblages and photography were my main vehicles and eventually I turned to writing, but this was not immediate enough. I began to think I would probably paint when I retired. Each long summer holiday would leave me refreshed and bursting with ideas – but within 2-3 weeks of returning to the classroom nearly all creativity had ebbed. Just before the turn of the millennium my wife argued that I should just get on with it and not wait for retirement. Her support and encouragement have been invaluable. My first exhibition was an eclectic mix of work which my son said looked like the work of several different painters. At my second, self organised solo exhibition in early 2001 I sold my first piece. Other exhibitions and sales followed. The Inland Revenue were interested in my earnings and propelled me to the “status” of self employed artist. That is what I am and do full time now that I have taken premature retirement. The issue of a style has always been a problem. I worked for a while with a mainly red and blue palette. One French gallery eventually rejected my work because it was too red and blue! Looking for a style or palette has been about a desire to conform (at one level) and gain “acceptance”. I try, rebelliously, to push boundaries in my work whilst wanting acceptance. I see the use of canvas and MDF board (the modern wood panel) as conservative and rooted in an art historical perspective. The emphasis on non-subjective work I see as rebellious... to see complete biography, click on artists name Country: UK Birthyear: 1948 Galleries: SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2001 Magdalen Picture Frames. Norwich. 12 Jan. – 23 Feb. 2001 Expresso. St. Georges St. Norwich. 5 March – 29 April 2001 Maddermarket Gallery. Norwich. 29 Oct. – 9 Dec. 2001 2002 The Playhouse (gallery area) Norwich 4 Jan. – 25 Feb. 2002 Regatta Fine Art. Holt, Norfolk. 20 April – 4 May 2002 Toucan Gallery Beccles, Suffolk. 2 – 30 May 2002 The Playhouse, the Playroom. Norwich Sept/Oct 2002 Also part of the Norwich fringe festival. Wildwood Gallery Bury St.Edmunds, Suffolk Nov. 2002 2003 The Tea Lounge Ber St. Norwich Mid April to mid June 2003 Wildwood Gallery Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk Sept. 2003 Gallery Ecosse D’Oc St Laurent de la Cabrerisse. FRANCE 6 Dec. 2003 - 17 Jan 2004 2004 Gallery Ecosse D’Oc St Laurent de la Cabrerisse. FRANCE 6 Dec. 2003 - 17 Jan 2004 Galerie Eponyme Magalas, FRANCE July-Sept. 2004 Mixed Exhibitions. 2001 Vessalio Gallery Norwich May 2001 W.A.S. Associate Members Exhibition. Norwich Oct. 2001 Toucan Gallery Beccles, Suffolk. 21 Nov. – 24 Dec. 2001 Frames. Norwich Dec. – Jan. 2001/2002 2002 Regatta Fine Art. Holt, Norfolk. March 2002 Lighthouse Gallery. Norwich March – Sept. 2002 WAS Associate Members’ Show Norwich May-June 2002 Part of Norfolk Open Studios. Galerie Catalan Ceret, FRANCE. Summer 2002 on going Galerie Profils Coulliere, FRANCE. Summer 2002 on going Frames. Norwich Summer 2002 2003 WAS Associate Members Show. “Spring Roll” Norwich March 2003 Galerie Profils Coulliere, FRANCE Summer 2002/3 on going The Wall Gallery Ely, Cambridgeshire October 2003 The Wall Gallery Ely, Cambridgeshire Christmas Show 2003 2004 Galerie Catalan Ceret, FRANCE Ongoing Galerie Profils Coulliere, FRANCE Ongoing WAS Heartfelt Exhibition WAS Associate Members Exhibition- part of Open Studios Norwich Norwich Feb. 2004 May/June 2004 Wildwood Gallery Bury St. Edmunds. Suffolk Ongoing The Wall Gallery Summer Show July/August Galerie Eponyme Magalas, France Ongoing Pictures for People Great Yarmouth Norfolk Nov.2004 2005 Off the Wall, Warehouse Associates Show Norwich March/April 2005 Forthcoming Solo Exhibitions The Playroom The Playhouse Norwich May 2005 The Upper Gallery The Playhouse Norwich March 2006 Forthcoming Mixed Exhibitions The Withers Gallery Itteringham, Norfolk 24 Sept. – 5 Nov. 2005 The Oliver Messel Gallery Assembly Rooms Norwich 1 Oct – 8 Oct. 2005 Media: acrylic Style: abstract Subjects: other, abstract expressionist/process