I have two themes running through this website.  The first and original was to showcase my paintings.  The second came about quite accidentally. One day, as my partner and I were taking our first walk through an ex-quarry that was being restored I had one of those 'wouldn't it be a good idea' moments. Why not start a blog to record the considerable efforts that Cemex were expanding in restoring their ex-quarry to a nature reserve. Hence the tab 'FLEET HILL FARM AND MANOR FARM' came into being.

Normal tedious artist's statement:

I have developed a style whereby my paintings look superb from all distances.

The closer you get to my paintings, the more delighted you are at the detail being revealed.

My paintings are primarily all watercolour, though more recently I have been using acrylics for backgrounds. They can take three to four months to produce as I strive to achieve minute levels of detail and realism. Adding to the time is the translucent nature of watercolours.  It is almost impossible to paint white onto darker colours.  This means I have to carefully plan my approach, and painstakingly paint around the whiskers and hairs!

I am fortunate to live in the semi rural village of Finchampstead (not far from the bustling market town of Wokingham, Berkshire) with my partner, daughter and two new rescue cats: Cleopatra and Esme.

The mauve rose, in the picture above: I photographed it in my garden just after a summer shower.  I may paint it one day, as it so looks like a futuristic space ship you would see on a film like Star Trek.