Welcome to my Website. As the title suggests I am a portrait artist who specialises in children and pets. You can view my work in my Portraits Gallery, some of it recent. Please continue your walk through my website and  take a look at my Watercolours, Pastels and Miniatures too. Also view the interesting Step-by-Step Murals pages.

NOTE: I strive to keep introducing new artwork on this site and keep it looking up-to-date. So please return from time to time to make sure that you are not missing out on anything.

My favourite medium for executing portraits is high standard artist quality Coloured Pencils, always with a finely sharpened point. This gives a very refined quality and allows for lots of detail, my preferred way of working, and I just love it. I am also happy to paint portraits and houses in a different medium i.e. watercolour, oils or pastels. Watercolour is a wonderful medium for landscapes and buildings, and used to reserve it mostly for those kinds of subjects, but  I have found more recently that this medium has a lovely quality all of its own which can be very successful for great portraits.

MY VIEW ON COLOURED PENCILS

It is a pity that Coloured Pencils still seem to be regarded as "kids crayons" by some people (even a number of professional artists) which is so unjustified! The Coloured Pencil is actually a very grown-up medium which is used by many very talented and skilled artists, and it is fast becoming as popular as watercolours, gouche or pastels. Thankfully things are now moving on in the twenty-first century, and organisations such as the CPSA in the USA, and the UK Coloured Pencil Society have for a large part contributed to this new awareness. To find out more and to see examples please check out their websites.  As you can see there, extremely high standards can be and are achieved. CP is absolutely wonderful for very fine detail. This does make it a time-consuming, although satisfying medium. A blessing is that most good quality coloured pencils are now also lightfast, and more and more colour pencil producers are following suit. Please keep in mind that artwork produced with CPs needs to be treated with the same care as you would a watercolour or a high quality print, or a pastel. Once in a frame they should all be kept away from direct (sun!) light and heat sources.

THE WAY I WORK

I work from photographs as that  is the most practical and economical way for me to work when using coloured pencils. There are many times when it would not be practical for my client to come and sit for me, especially where he or she lives a long way away or in another country. And children are certainly not that keen on posing for more than 5 minutes! As I put a great deal of detail into each drawing it takes a good number of hours to complete, so by using photographs there is minimal pressure on either side. However, sometimes I do get my client to sit for me for sketches when possible, as that helps with my overall composition and will of course improve the drawing a great deal. But  this can only be possible when he or she lives quite close to me and there is minimal traveling involved. I prefer to take my own photographs, but unfortunately as this means visiting the client, again distance will often not allow this. So I go for the next best thing and ask for the best quality photographs you can provide. Getting involved in travel would simply be too costly for me and therefore makes the whole process more expensive, so I would have to reflect that in my prices. My portraits are not that expensive when you consider the time it takes. I work hard to get a realistic end result and I try to make sure that my client is truly satisfied. I have received very positive feedback from many happy customers, so I am planning to reflect this in a new section on this site at some point, featuring some of the comments.

A beautiful portrait makes a lovely keep-sake, of your children, grandchildren, your spouse or a family member, or perhaps one of yourself.  It can be a lovely surprise for a friend or relative. Get your own pet drawn, or surprise a friend with a portrait of his or her dog or cat. Portraits also make wonderful original gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, or any special occasion.

I am confident in saying that the likeness I produce is excellent, and can assure you of the highest quality. Read more information about procedure and prices here.

Colour pencil drawing of sleeping child

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July 2002: I am thrilled to share the good news with you that I have won a prize for my CP painting "Painted Faces" I received one of the 4 runner-up prizes: the Derwent Award. This exhibition was held in the UK at Farmhouse Gallery, Patchings Farm Art Centre, Calverton, Notts. June 26th - July 21st 2002. The  painting and the complete online exhibition can be viewed here: http://ukcps.co.uk/Exhibition2002.htm  Thank you for looking.

PRINTS FROM MY WATERCOLOURS AND ORIGINAL PAINTINGS

I have a number of Original Watercolours, and a selection of 29 Framed Prints for sale, 15 are limited edition. These attractive prints have been professionally produced using 4-colour litho printing process on high quality 180gsm acid free paper, and all come in lovely natural wooden frames. They are for sale on eBay Auctions, or from me directly. All prints can also be viewed on this website, click here. Check them out if you want to buy. Great idea if you are looking for a small gift.

NEW TUTORIAL PLANNED FOR WEBSITE    

ACCEPTANCE INTO JURIED ART WEBSITE

PUBLISHED IN "THE ART PAPER", DALER-ROWNEY 

Nov, 2002: My  Painted Faces is again featured, this time in this free art paper, available in all the UK art shops. It is also sent out to subscribers in the USA and Canada. Click here for the website of Daler-Rowney where you can also download olders copies of this paper. 

TUTORIAL GONE LIVE 

Nov 15, 2002: I am pleased to announce that my tutorial is now online and ready for you to visit. Feedback is appreciated. 
Click here. Enjoy!

NEW ARTWORK ADDED 

Dec 22, 2002: I have uploaded my colourful portrait in CP of our dear friend John, posing with his four grandchildren, a special gift for him and his family. I am showing this picture here with their kind permission. Also added is a b/w sketch I did prior to the portrait in preparation for this project. (Both are now located in the Portrait gallery) 

FEATURED ON THE CP CHALLENGE SITE

Jan 01, 2003: My portrait lesson is featured this month on the front page at The Color Pencil Challenge website. I feel so honored to be at this great site. Many thanks, Karen!!

Jan 02, 2003: 2nd part of my Tutorial is now complete on my website, showing The Family Portrait step-by step. Please check it out.

KESWICK - "THE WORLD OF COLOURED PENCIL" EXHIBITION 

April, 2003: at the home of Derwent Coloured Pencils, the Cumberland Pencil Museum, Greta Bridge, Keswick, for the whole of the month of April. Thirty paintings were shown here by members of the UKCPS, mostly in pure cp, but some using other media as well. This exhibition also showed work from beginners as well as the professionals, so a wide range of styles, subjects and treatments could be seen, showing just what is possible with cp. For more details visit The Derwent Pencils site.

MORE NEW ARTWORK ADDED 

May 14, 2003: Portrait of an Irish Victorian Gentleman, drawn with Coloured Pencils, but in Sepia only, to give it that 19th Century look. Also dog portrait "Dolly" added in CP, a local commission. Both commissions are displayed with kind permission of the owners.  View new artwork here. 

SECOND ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF THE UKCPS 

From 23rd July to August 17th , 2003: The Barn Gallery at Patchings Farm Arts Centre, Calverton, Nottingham, admission free. Fifty of the best pictures in pure cp in the main gallery at Patchings Farm. This show can be viewed online now: CLICK HERE. 

A & I SHOW 

24 & 27th July, 2003: Please come and say hello at the Artists & Illustrator Show at the Design Centre in Islington, London, where you can find me on the UKCPS stand (25/26th), and I will also be part of a team giving demonstrations & workshops: my speciality (you guessed it!): Portraits! 

UKCPS EXHIBITION AT PATCHINGS ENDED

August 17th , 2003: This stunning 2nd show of wonderful CP art has now come to an end. All went well and it has been a great success. Many congratulations to all the Prize winners!! For more news about the show and AGM, visit the UKCPS website, and you can view the complete online version of the show by clicking HERE. Not to be missed!! 

LEISURE PAINTER ARTICLE

February 2004: Well, I'm pleased to say that an article has now appeared (Feb. issue) about CP in the Leisure Painter magazine (UK), thanks to Gwen Kitching, who kindly invited three artists (Bob Ebdon, Lesley Crawford &  myself) to write about their own varying techniques. See the LP website here.

NEW PORTRAIT - PEOPLE'S PRIZE

April 23rd, 2004:  "My Sweet Lolly", check out this gallery now. This portrait was the winner of the People's Vote in the 2nd Keswick exhibition of the UKCPS held at the Cumberland Pencil Museum in April 2004, about 200 people voted.

UKCPS 2004 ANNUAL EXHIBITION & ARTISTS & ILLUSTRATOR SHOW :

Oct 10th, 2004:  Please check out the online version of: the 3rd Annual Exhibition of the UKCPS at http://www.ukcps.co.uk/2004Exhibition.htm held at the Barn Gallery, Patchings Farm Art Centre, Calverton, Notts. July 23rd - August 17th. The jury of Ann Kullberg CPSA, Malcolm Mitton and David Cook selected 54 paintings, which were warmly received by all who saw them. Brilliant work as always, and many congratulations to the prize winners, all well-deserved.
I am pleased to announce that I was one of the members to be awarded Signature status, receiving one the first 10 certificates presented at the AGM this year, indicated by the initials CPS after the artists name. 

Like the previous year the A & I show held on 22nd-25th July at the Business Centre in Islington, London, was very successful with lots of interest at our large UKCPS stand for Coloured Pencil art and for the society. Again I ran a Portrait demonstration for the second year running on 23rd July, and am pleased to say that this was well-attended and went very well indeed. Great to meet up with other UKCPS members, some again, others only for the first time, and to share our mutual experiences.

A4 PRINTS FOR SALE:

Nov 22nd, 2004:  Finally, after a long wait I have uploaded a new page with A4 PRINTS to buy. I hope you like my selection of art on offer. Of course I would welcome your comments, and am always open to suggestions.

ARTIST TONY BLAIN

Jan 18th, 2005:  Sadly we have lost yet another brilliant and unique talent amongst us artists. My dear friend & tutor Tony Blain has suddenly passed away. See this page. This is an immense loss for both local and the national art world, and this energetic man will be sorely missed. I am thankful for the time Tony made available for anyone who needed it: to show us how it could be done, and simply by being 120% supportive. Nothing was ever too much for him. Whenever I picked up a paintbrush Tony was always there in the background (in spirit) encouraging me, and he will continue to do so. Bless you Tony, do take care. I will Look on the Bright Side for you, and I will always remember you, especially when I'm painting.

UKCPS 2005 ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION 

August 6th - September 4th 2005:  This year the exhibition took place at the Stable Gallery, Ronald Swanwick's Stable Art Centre, Kington, Herefordshire.
The jury of Bernard Poulin, CPSA, Graham Brace and Christopher Christoforou selected 53 paintings, which were warmly received by all who saw them. Prizewinners were selected by professional artists Ronald Swanwick and Chris Jarvis. See the online version by CLICKING HERE.
(I won the Caran d'Ache award.)

JONATHAN'S BOOK  

Oct 2006:  Two of my pictures got published in Jonathan Newey's wonderful new book "Drawing with Coloured Pencils" by New Holland Publishers of London. My Sweet Lolly & Furry Friends. Look out for the book in all good bookshops (£14.99 in UK) and online stores such as Amazon.  

 

This is Alex, my teenage son. Find out more about him and his music on www.i-quanta.com

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