My background is book illustration and much of that work has been
figurative, so it’s maybe not surprising that part of my departure into painting
has been portraiture. Developing a character throughout a story requires the
same thoughtful observation as a one off portrait. I like to meet a person in their
own surroundings, have a chat, and then take anything up to 100 digital photos.
This gives me a visual ‘library’ and one or two key shots that I can work from
back in my studio. Many of my portraits are soft pastel – it’s a particularly
sympathetic medium for faces, but I do work in oil too.