I have been drawing and painting since I can remember, I first started using oil paints when I was thirteen and have never looked back as they are by far my favourite medium. I was born and raised in Hammersmith, London and I studied fine art painting at Wimbledon college, University Arts London. After graduating from university in 2009,  I worked as an assistant for the artist Ben Johnson whilst starting my own portrait painting business in my spare time. In late 2013 I moved to Berlin where I continued to paint portraits and teach myself further painting techniques. In 2020 I moved back to London where I currently work as an artist assistant for Damien Hirst.

   I have always been attracted to the Dutch master techniques of oil painting and the heavy contrast of Italian Baroque painting. My paintings consist of many thin layers of paint and I use such techniques as glazing and scumbling to build up a painting with rich, subtle tones that will last over 500 years. My preferred style of painting is the ‘Conversation Piece’, an informal group portrait of friends and family engaged in conversation or some activity. I feel such paintings capture people at their best and make for an overall more engaging image.    

The Role of the Patron

It is my opinion that the relationship between the patron and the artist has been somewhat lost in modern times. Whilst the word Patron might seem outdated, it is simply a person supporting an artist by having them make something personal and meaningful for them. Most fine artists today paint their pictures independently of other people, picking the subject, style and message themselves and exhibit them in galleries or shows in the hope of somebody buying them. Meanwhile, someone looking to purchase an artwork can find the prospect of approaching a gallery or dealer a little daunting and inaccessible.

 But why not simply ask an artist to paint you something that you would really like? Why not treat the artist as a craftsman, no different from a carpenter or a tailor. I think this approach establishes a direct and collaborative relationship between artist and buyer, which can help create a truly unique and personal artwork.

So please don’t be afraid of becoming a patron, if not of me then another artist whose work and style inspires you to commission something unique for you or a loved one.

My painting ‘Self portrait as Soldier’ was published in ‘A Little book of portraits: Beyond the canvas’ a catalogue accompanying the Sky Arts Portrait painter of the year 2014 series. (Quadrille Publishing Ltd)

In 2014, I participated in the London heats of Sky Arts Portrait painter of the Year with the portrait painted being chosen to keep by the sitter Daniel Roche.

In 2013, I participated in the Glasgow heats of Sky Arts Portrait painter of the Year.