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Who am I?
I was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland going to school there. I went on to study science at Glasgow University ultimately leaving with a post-graduate degree in atomic physics. Alongside this interest in science, I was always intrigued by art and attended night school classes at the Glasgow School of Art.
Many years then passed working in medical science in several Glasgow hospitals which have all subsequently been demolished - strange! Much more importantly, I met my wife, Margaret, while we both worked in the Glasgow Western Infirmary. When the time came to retire, we decided to move to the east coast of Scotland, to St Andrews in Fife.
We eventually extended an old property just outside St Andrews at Balmungo, where we ran the Birchwood Cottage Gallery & Tearoom for charity for many years.
In 2022, we retired again and in 2024 we moved to the beautiful town of Oban on the west coast of Scotland.
Over the years, I have developed as an artist winning awards from the Dundee Art Club, the Shell Expo exhibition in Kirkcaldy and some online art awards. More to the point, I have been able to sell my work with all proceeds currently going to the Scottish-based Mary's Meals children's charity.
Why do I paint?
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Why indeed! It's a bit like folks who climb high mountains or row single-handedly across the Atlantic - it's just something you need to do - although it has to be said drawing and painting are a good deal safer!
When light falls on a field, a face or a flower, something clicks in your mind and you know you want to draw or paint that image.
Other times you are just playing with paint on canvas or paper and some synergistic interaction of the colours and shapes makes you want to create something interesting without there being any apparent external inspiration.
Basically you just want to explore possibilities with line, colour, tone and texture in a way that satisfies some need in you - and if other people get enjoyment from it, then so much the better.
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