Studied art at Hornsey College of Art and more recently wood calving at Hawkwood House and Ceramics at Stroud College. A member of the UK republican Oil painters institute. Currently working in wood, ceramics, ink and oil, living and working around Stroud. Art is derived from the immediate environment. Increasingly the negative physical influences of human greed and ignorance are featuring as a major focus. Ceramics and sculpture explores the interaction with varied materials, rock and stone (which is all that will be left once the planet is heated and stormed to dust). Retiring from the relentless drudgery of teaching in 2021 a late start to a new life as a full time artist began. Inspiration: my late mother Gillian Mary James a superb freehand drawer, Irene James (grandmother) a Llandeilo based painter, Mr Clifford King (art teacher) based in Windsor. Contemporary inspirations include Frank Auerbach, Kevin Sinnott, Phil Jeffries, Roy Exley, Egon Schiele, Lee Krasner.and Mariane Von Werefin 2D, Hepworth, Calder, Emin and Moore 3D.
Roles
Organiser of the UK Plein air Cader Idris Week (April) and Gower Paint Out (May).
Administrator for the UK Plein Air Artists, Facebook.
Trustee and founding member of the organising committee for the Stroud Artists Cooperative (100 members) .now organising Woodruffs cafe, outdoor painting and portriture groups.
Exhibitions and Events
2024 100 artist exhibition Stroud.
2024 Member of the UK republican institute of oil painters.
Limited work is permanently hung at The Crown, Frampton Mansell and Woodruffs Cafe, Stroud.
2023 Ceramic entry "blue shed" accepted into the South West Academy Show. October.
2023 Winter show, SAC event, Stroud.
2023 July Air and Water, Lansdown Gallery, Strou2023 June SAC summer show, Lansdown Gallery, Stroud.
2023 Student Ceramics show Stroud College June, Stroud.
2023 March. Spring Gallery Exhibition Cheltenham
2023 Article published in Steel Jackdaw Art and Culture Magazine
2022 Invited to sketch Adam Horowitz poetry to Jazz performance part of the Stroud Arts Festival.
2022 SAC exhibitions at Lansdown Hall and Gallery, Stroud.
2022 Participation in the selective Connections exhibition
2022 Winner of the Plein Air Contemporary Award, Cheltenham.
2022 Partnership with Woodruffs Cafe initiated.
2022 Vase and Painting successfully entered into the South West Academy summer show in Sidmouth.
2021 Art in the Park, Cheltenham.
2021 Completed the conversion of Eastcombe Bus shelter, Mural and library.
2020 Enigmatics Exhibition Sub Rooms Stroud.