Meet the new tenants at Colonnade House

I wake up with the sun and my 9-month-old daughter and we have breakfast together.  Once she goes down for her morning nap I hop on my bike and cycle over to Colonnade House. 

I usually arrive at the studio at around 9:30am, immediately get some coffee on the brew and open up the email inbox, any other routine admin stuff I’ll also get done first thing. 

I’ll then get stuck into any project work I have on, this might be animation, illustration or direction, I may have to hop on a call in the late morning or early afternoon depending on what I have on.

In between project work I like to explore personal work ideas, either developing new animation skills or escaping the computer and getting lost in a flow state,  painting while listening to my favourite music.

Curiosity and progress.  Exploring an idea is always exciting to me, if something I do is successful building on it and seeing where it goes is also very encouraging.  I’m addicted to style… particularly in illustration, animation and mural art… Fresh contemporary work is created every day in our global community and I’m always excited to see something new.

The other residents in the building and management have been very welcoming since I arrived, it’s a wonderfully supportive community.  The location also couldn’t be better being so close to the beach and town centre with the lovely Steine Gardens just outside my window.

I find a drawing monitor to be an essential tool working in animation today.  It’s such an intuitive tool and really streamlines the workflow.

I’m currently working on an animated short which I can’t tell you too much about now as it’s still in the seedling stage and I would like to let it develop naturally.  

I have an exhibition booked at Colonnade House in May 2022!  This will be showcasing some of my illustration work and hopefully animation too.

Explore your curiosity and if in doubt, keep making work and let your style find you.  

It’s too easy to lose confidence in creative work, I always thought as long as I’m making work I’m making progress and this has fared well for me. 

This quote by Andy Warhol always spoke to me: 

“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.

My day starts by walking along the prom to my studio. This is where I can think up ideas and get inspiration for new paintings. I then usually spend some time checking on Art Groups that I follow on social media, before I start on either sketching new ideas, preparing canvases or actually painting!

I get inspired from looking at paintings of artists that I greatly admire, like Eric Ravilious, Edward Burra, John Nash, Edward Hopper and L.S Lowry amongst others.

I try to create something every day – even if it is only thumbnail sketches of new ideas.

What I like about working at Colonnade House is the art community feel to it, plus the gallery that I can exhibit my works in.

I also find that going out to work – rather than working from home with all its distractions makes me focus all my attention on my art.

I could not do without my Mac computer as I draw all my detailed sketches directly on my drawing tablet using my thumbnails sketches as guides, plus I use it for research. I could also not work without my oil paints and brushes

I am currently experimenting with a new abstract style, using a synthetic clay to form shapes sculpted onto wooden panels and over painted in oils in a relief style.

I am always applying to exhibit my works in national art exhibitions.

I don’t think any single piece of advice helped me on my creative journey – as much as support. For without the total and dedicated support of my wife Mandy – I would not have had the success or be where I am today. We are a team.

A working day usually consists of a breakfast shift at a local hotel, then into the framing studio to finish or start outstanding work. After lunch, I’ll check social media and have some time set aside for creating and experimenting new profiles concepts or finishes to frames. In the afternoon, I always check the stock and place any orders needed.

Everything inspires my work; from a car painted in a strange colour, clothes, something from history, a book, music and even happy accidents.

There’s a good crowd of people, a spacious environment, very quiet, lots of help and information available. A nice energy about the place.

Definitely the mitre machine, as this cuts the perfect angles to create seamless framing, a must-have accessory for any framer.

I have recently taken an interest in the blockchain, and I am creating digital images (NFT’s) to sell. I’m also creating videos producing unusual frames and artwork which will be uploaded to YouTube, TikTok and Twitter.

Believe in what you are doing, and take yourself out of your comfort zone. It’s the only time you will really find anything about your true self and what you are capable of.