Brought up in the potteries just after the introduction of the clean air act it still seemed a pretty smokey place to me. But I still had plenty of fun as a kid playing amongst the dereliction in between asthma attacks. The landscape was amazing and if it still existed today would probably be used as the backdrop to a Star Wars episode or spin off of Lord of The Rings.

I attended Portland House Art School in Burslem before studying Graphic Design at the North Staffordshire Polytechnic. The course included life drawing classes which were taken by the legendary Arthur Berry,who's landscapes still influence me today.

After several years working as a Graphic Designer I became an artist for the Wedgewood Group (the hours were more regular and it allowed me to pursue my other career as a member of a prog rock band Grace).The advent of new technology and outsourcing brought about my redundancy from Wedgwoods, so I picked up a paint brush and vented my anger with watercolours, as well as whipping myself with a rubber chicken onstage.

Its very rare I use the chicken now, as I feel my painting is a better way of expressing my feelings, it also pays tribute to the people who have worked for and served the pottery industry in the past, and to those who are now breathing new life into it .

If you find my work interesting please visit:

www.creativestoke.co.uk