I have been living in Essendon for thirty years.

I’ve been painting on and off for forty years as a hobbyist, but have become more serious in the last fifteen. I enjoy tonal impressionist oil painting, the study of light – in the tradition of early Australian artists, particularly those influenced by Max Meldrum. Although drawn to still life, due to its convenience, I also paint more and more outdoors as well as portraiture and figure painting.

My best paintings are happening now, especially still life. I’m challenging myself to lose edges, keep colour clean and vibrant where needed, let the eye focus on a particular area whilst maintaining some visual truth without being photographic – keeping it simple and ‘painterly’. One of my favourite areas for painting outdoors has been the Yarraville, Newport, Williamstown areas, and my current favourite artist is Australian, Ron Crawford (1915–1987).

I began lessons at the Victorian Artist Society in the late 90s, receiving tuition from Margaret Cowling (water colour), Max Wilks (oil) and Gregory Smith (oil – for nine years at his school in Strathmore).

More recently I have become a VAS Council member and am currently the convenor for education and the Norma Bull Scholarship (a bi-annual scholarship to encourage students in naturalistic portraiture).

I have also been the judge for Art and Sculpture at the Royal Melbourne Agricultural Show the last two years. I am currently attending VAS classes with Ray Hewitt (twice VAS Artist of the Year) and my best paintings are happening in those classes.