ALLEN, MARTIN Martin is a Derbyshire man (Tideswell). Born in 1953 and has been producing his artwork (in very many forms) all his life. His earlier years were also spent accumulating some of life's experiences from coal mining, construction work, acquiring a B.A.Hons in design and teaching art to mentally handicapped adults. However, he has made art his 'living' for the last 27 years - and his diversity of imagery and techniques comes from both his practical abilities and an acute awareness of what he calls our 'individual progression'. "I've always been interested in exploring anything 'new' - from philosophies to technologies. Having experimented with 'TM' (Transcendental Meditation) in the early 70's and 3Ds MAX (an advanced computer modelling program) in the 2000's - I can honestly say that there is no difference, they are just tools to find that place of creativity". As someone who is familiar with Martin's work once said -"it's like a visual diary". Or in today's terms - I suppose that should be 'blog'. His work is in countless private collections all around the world, due to his many exhibitions and a 15-year stint selling it from his stand at London's Covent Garden in the 80's and 90's.   ATKINSON, CHARLOTTE Charlotte was born in the great naval city of Plymouth in 1973 and grew up with a natural fascination for the sea. After training to be an illustrator at the University of Derby and Hereford College of Art, her love of coastal life drew her to Scotland where she was invited to become Artist in Residence at a rural centre for the arts. Charlotte says: “The moment when I first knew I wanted to be a professional artist was when I was asked to produce some work for a refuge centre for women who had suffered domestic violence, and I created a series of pieces reflecting on acceptance and harmony. The whole experience of liaising with the refuge and seeing people's response to the finished images was immensely rewarding and inspiring, and proved to me that art really can make a difference.” Since becoming a professional artist Charlotte has showcased her work throughout the South of England and has enjoyed numerous successful exhibitions in London, York, Inverness, Galloway and Dallas, Texas. Following her success at the Fine Art Trade Guilds Awards in 2000, where she was awarded the prestigious title of 'Artist Exhibition Winner', her work attracted a great deal of attention leading to the publication of her first collection of Limited Editions, which sold out in a matter of weeks. Since then her reputation has gone from strength to strength, and her Original Paintings, Limited Edition Prints, Sculptures and Glassware have quickly achieved the status of collector’s items.   BARKER, BOB "It was on Christmas morning, when I was twelve years old, that my mother gave me one of the best presents I have ever received - an oil painting set. That was the start and I have been painting ever since. I was immediately captivated by what could be achieved with a brush, some oil paint and a few small squares of hardboard; I used to paint on the reverse side because I thought it looked like proper canvas. My mother was a weaver in a mill not far from my school and when my day there ended, I used to walk to the mill and wait for her to finish work. I loved the smell of the looms and talked to everybody in the spinning sheds, the burling and mending room, the winders and tuners, along with my grandmother who was the 'cha' lady there. This is where my love of tea comes from, as well as the images I now paint. With no formal training I have just enjoyed painting in many different styles and with numerous subjects, developing and honing my techniques of brush and palette knife. Although I am Yorkshire born and bred, during my youth I spent a little while in Cornwall. There I met two prominent artists (Keith English & Tom Gower) and spent hours watching them paint. Conversations with them made me believe I could be a professional artist. However, as life goes on, marriage to my lovely wife, mortgage to whoever was the cheapest, and children who I wouldn't be without, meant that painting remained as a hobby. I ran my own business in video and media production for more than 20 years and this took me around the country and abroad, filming for many clients and running workshops teaching primary school and A-level students the art of video making. My daughter-in-law now runs the business and this has released me to achieve my lifelong dream of being a working artist. In 2000, I started selling my paintings to local galleries and through them my work went nation-wide. My older brother Colin ever-so-nicely, yet relentlessly, forced CD's featuring my images on to many fine art publishers. This created a good interest in my work. In 2005, I exhibited at the Autumn Fair in Birmingham and there I was introduced to Glyn Washington of Washington Green and the rest, as they say, is history."   BARRETT, ROY When in 1993 Roy Barrett took the opportunity of redundancy from his high profile career as Art Director with the BBC, he was able to throw himself into combining his two great passions, painting and motoring, and turn professional artist. Since then his name has become internationally recognised for his unique style, in which he combines his narrative abilities, with a love of all things mechanical, to produce watercolours and oils which celebrate the beauty and character of classic vehicles, set within contemporary and nostalgic scenarios. Roy’s limited edition fine art lithographs of classic motorcycles are now collected by enthusiasts worldwide, new releases in his ‘Italian Job’ series are eagerly awaited by Mini owners, original watercolours are snapped up almost before dry, and as word has spread Roy now finds his skills much in demand for commission work. ‘’The greatest feeling is watching the joy on a clients face as you reveal their painting for the first time. I used to entertain people telling stories with a TV camera, now I use a paintbrush.’’ ‘’The only drawback…….I am so busy painting that my restoration projects are taking twice as long.’’ Following the decision to produce Limited Edition Fine Art Prints from his motorcycle paintings, even wider audiences are now able to enjoy and collect Roy's work. With agents in this country, America and Australia, now promoting his work through galleries, demand has grown rapidly for the Limited prints and many of the editions are now sold out. Although primarily known for his motorcycle paintings, Roy is continually looking at new subject matter to which to apply his unique style. Currently he is developing work based on a number of his favourite passions, Rock and Roll, Aircraft, Railways, Portraiture, and the female Life-study, whilst also endeavouring to expand the range of 'Bike' subjects. On the rare days when he is not painting, sculpting or attending shows, Roy's relaxation is playing guitar, working on the restoration of his Suzuki 500, and Lambretta SX, or best of all riding around the Devon lanes on his Yamaha XS650.   BARSBY, ADAM Born in Leicester in 1969 Adam showed an early artistic talent which would eventually lead him to graduate from Kent Institute of Art and Design in Maidstone with a First Class Honours Degree. Following his graduation in 1992 Adam worked on several freelance projects for art galleries and magazines whilst developing his distinctive style. In 1996 he decided to commit himself to painting on a full time basis. His confidence was soon rewarded by invitations to exhibit at many prestigious galleries throughout the UK and the highly successful launch of his range of Limited Editions and Original Silkscreen Prints. Adam draws his inspiration from the romantic element of the world around us, and describes his work as developing on a natural slant from story-telling. His unique view of life, characterised by stylised images, rich colours and thought provoking narratives, continue to take the art world by storm. Adam's unique talent has gained him the prestigious John Solomon Trophy for Best Selling Artist of 1998, Best Up and Coming Artist for 1999 and three nominations for Best-Selling Published Artist 2000, 2001 and 2002 from the Fine Art Trade Guild. Demand for Adam's Original Paintings continues to grow and although his Limited Editions and sculptures sell out on publication, but he is still seeking new creative outlets for his ideas.   BEECHAM, GREG The son of the artist Tom Beecham, Greg grew up hunting, fishing, observing nature and learning to draw—always aware of a yearning to follow in his father’s footsteps. He remembers standing for hours with his dad, studying the movements of whitetail deer in the woods behind their home. His dream of studying full-time with his father had to be postponed until Greg completed a tour in the U.S. Navy. He enlisted as a hospital corpsman and served on the Guided Missile Destroyer the USS John S. McCain, which sailed home from Vietnam just six days after Beecham reported for duty. Finally, in 1978, after a few years at Southern Oregon State College, father and son dedicated themselves to developing Greg’s fine art career. At an art show in 1985, Beecham was further inspired by Bob Kuhn, who gave me “permission,” as Greg puts it, to play with paint. Since then, Beecham has won many awards for his fluid unions of animal and environment, including Best of Show, People’s Choice and Artist’s Choice awards at the C.M. Russell Auction; Best of Show, People’s Choice and Featured Artist honours at the Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show, and the Wildlife Art News Award at the Society of Animal Artist’s Art Exhibition. He was just asked to be special guest artist at the ‘99 Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. In addition, Beecham’s artwork has been exhibited in the Museum of Natural History in Beijing, China and is in the permanent collection of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum and the Clymer Museum in Ellensburg, Washington. A devout Christian, Greg Beecham honours the beauty of creation while raising his children to become productive, caring people and remaining a loving husband to his wife of more than twenty years. “I try to create interesting compositions, complimented by dynamic colour harmonies, light and value,” he says. “My motto? Do all things unto the Lord and get so good you can’t be ignored.”   BENFIELD, GARY Gary Benfield was born December 6th, 1965 in Birmingham, England. He studied art at Stourbridge College of Art (1982 – 1984) and at Wrexham College of Art (1984 – 1986). In 1986, Benfield became a professional freelance illustrator. After leaving the academic world he set up his own studio near London and concentrated on drawing and painting figures. Within a few years, his work was being collected throughout Europe and his reputation had become firmly established. Benfield has a natural talent for depicting things as seen. His work is spontaneous and reflected by his drawn lines and dashes of colour. The figures dissolve in and out of their backgrounds and move across the canvas. He paints rapidly and discards most of his paintings and drawings, keeping only those he feels are perfected in their conception rather than overwork those that are not correct. His paintings represent a discrete world of objects which combine figures, mythology, nature, and still life. Despite the casual appearance of his compositions, all imagery is highly organized, and after long observations one finds the hidden symmetry and beauty beneath the layers of finery. The background of his paintings is soft, reminiscent of Leonardo de Vinci’s sketches and sepia tones, most of it defined only with pencil and a slight highlight of colour. For Benfield, the world around him is a continuous sequence of fortuitous events. Objects and figures intertwine in his mind, they dance, they fuse and one adopts the colour and life of another. We are drawn into an intimate world of his imagery, where sensuality and delight in life’s form are combined in a flight of frolic and fantasy. Benfield is considered to be one of the most renowned contemporary artists in the art world today. His work is collected by art collectors worldwide.   BLAKELY, HAMISH Hamish comes from a theatrical background. His childhood home was a place where extraordinary things happened. Drawing was the original expression. Hamish would draw an awful lot, trying to emulate other artists, to understand how they created what they did. Having stubbornly lived in the world of black and white, Hamish made himself paint at age 18. This was the first time he had made a painting so seriously. It was a portrait of his Dad. This was the turning point. Painting replaced drawing completely. He studied at Wimbledon School of Art and Kingston University, and only drew again at college to completely give it up when he left. He now paints immediately, considering preparatory sketches unnecessary. Hamish became an illustrator shortly after leaving college and received a national award. He now paints full time.   BOWEN, LAURENCE LLEWELYN Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is the UK’s premier celebrity designer and artist. His unique personal approach fuses contemporary minimalism with the glamour of styles gone by, and his enormous popularity has established his status as an arbiter of taste for the British public. Laurence was born in 1965 in London. In 1986 he graduated with honours from Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts and embarked on a career in design. Initially he worked for a company specialising in industrial flooring and was responsible for many of their best selling designs. From here Laurence went on to work with a team of interior designers, eventually setting up his own design consultancy which has undertaken an impressive range of multi-million pound refurbishments. His latest venture is the launch of a portfolio of stunning artwork inspired by his love of historical art and interior design.   BOYCE, KAY Kay Boyce was born in Sheffield. As a child she would often spend hours at a time drawing on rolls of wallpaper; this was the beginning of her passion for drawing. Kay Boyce studied illustration at college before working as a Freelance Illustrator. She produced editorial work for Woman's Weekly, Bella, My Weekly, Sunday Express and Woman's Own. Boyce's illustration work has carried her through to major book publishers such as Hodder & Staughton, Wadsworth Romantics, Mills & Boon and Mandarin. Although Kay Boyce is proud of her achievement in commercial illustration her true vocation is as an artist. Boyce's career as an Artist has flourished; her pastel and pencil drawings have become instantly recognisable. Kay Boyce is often to be found working in her studio at her home in the Glyn Morlas valley, near Oswestry, with the background voices of Radio 4. It is her empathy for the female form in movement, combined with a love of original Victorian clothes and antiques which she collects that inspire her to produce the soft, yet sensual images that have become her trademark. There is a fine line between eroticism and sensuality and Kay Boyce achieves the right balance. Kay Boyce also draws inspiration, from famous works such as those by Edgar Degas, Botticelli and Alma Tasimer: their use of composition and how they portray the texture in their materials intrigue her. Kay Boyce rarely titles her images herself, although there is one particular title that holds a place in her heart: 'Little Lizzy', this is the pet name her Father gave her when she was a young girl.   BURK, DAVE David Burk is a self taught artist from Buckinghamshire, who started painting in 1999 to pass the time after injuries brought a halt to his carpet fitting career, and sport of motorcycle trials riding. "I was pretty bored just sitting there, and was grateful when the F1 season started and I had something to cheer about. As with most television viewers, we tend to have our favourites, and I seem to applaud the underdog. I was delighted to see Eddie Irvine take the 1999 season opener, and revived a childhood hobby by trying to paint a tribute to this first win. It took me months, but I made quite a nice job of it! In the meantime, Eddie won again, team mate Michael Schumacher broke his leg, and Ferrari were seemingly pushing Eddie toward the title. I had all the inspiration I needed, and kept painting." 7 years on and some 40 paintings later, David is now a highly regarded motor sport artist. He has covered most forms of motor sport including Formula One, World Rally, Endurance and Historic racing, and is now leaning further toward his real passion of motorcycle racing. His work has been officially endorsed with driver signed editions from Sir Stirling Moss, 2001 World Rally Champions Richard Burns and Robert Reid, and Bentleys’ 2003 Le Mans winner Guy Smith. "I've had the pleasure of meeting so many of my heroes, I really have lost count. I’m still a passionate fan first and foremost, so I have some superb memories, not to mention some tremendous personalised memorabilia from heroes of mine, who have taken time out to actually meet me! It can be an extremely rewarding job."   BYE, JOHN John was born in Styvechale, Coventry, in 1970. His artistic talents were realized from an early age. He has spent most of his artistic life producing portraits and studies of animals in graphite pencil. Only recently has he taken to painting. His painting 'Wise Man of Africa' won him a prize and a position amongst the best of British Artists in The Daily Mails' "Not the Turner Prize". John’s talent enables him to produce a wide and varying range of painting - from detailed and photographic to impressionist and contemporary.   CARTER, PAM Born in Tanganyika, East Africa to an Austrian mother and Scottish father, Pam moved to Scotland at the age of thirteen. She graduated from Glasgow School of Art in the seventies and immediately embarked on a career in teaching. After being based in Braidfield High School for four years, she took a year out to study in Chicago, then spent a further two years teaching art in the glorious setting of the Seychelles. From the mid-eighties she taught in various colleges until in August 2004 she gave up her academic career to concentrate on painting full time. Pam's dazzling seascapes originate on the rugged West Coast of Scotland with its isolated cottages and wild colours and amongst the majestic cliffs and fishing villages of the East Coast. In her own words: "A sense of a place is important in my work but for me it's not about capturing a scene with complete accuracy. Sometimes it is the elements and the untamed force of nature that inspire, but more than anything it is the essential quality of the light which can be found in the Scottish land and seascape. I often interpret the scene with abstract elements allowing the paint to work for me. I translate this light in terms of contrast and colour - often bold but always with subtlety and balance. I ultimately want to create a visual sensation and pleasing image." Pam's award winning artwork is held in an impressive range of private and corporate collections. She has also held numerous solo exhibitions throughout Britain and in the USA and has participated in several group shows including the Royal Scottish Society (RSA), the Royal Glasgow Institute (RGI), Visual Arts Scotland (VAS), and the Paisley Art Institute (PAI). She gained an award from each of the latter three venues.   CARVER, GRAHAM Graham Carver has an uncanny instinct for finding and painting the scenes of our imagination. His sunbathed work creates deep nostalgia, a longing for hot unworried summers, and the rural idyll. He has an extraordinary ability to capture a sense of peace and safety of a pastoral England as once it must have been. After a Norfolk childhood, Graham studied art and design at Hornsey College, London before going on to study painting at Leeds College of Art. Having settled in Yorkshire he taught art and design for a number of years before becoming a full time professional painter. Graham’s works are in private collections all over the globe and he has had exhibition success in the national watercolour competition sponsored by Singer and Friedlander and the Sunday Times, his work has been well received in leading galleries throughout the North of England as well as the Bank Side and Mall galleries in London and his signed limited edition prints are widely collected.   CASAS, VICTOR Casas was born in a small mountain village above the Spanish port of Alicante in 1952. He began his painting career in his home town as a child and specialises in still life work. Casas has developed, throughout his professional career, a style known as hyper-realism. The quality of his brush work is remarkable with his subject and the application of light and shade within his compositions is outstanding. His work sells widely throughout Europe and the USA and is in many national and international private collections.   CISZ, HENDERSON Born in Brazil in 1960, Henderson grew up in a small village near Maringa. His talent for painting was clear from as early age, but he never considered pursuing a career as an artist. Instead he entered the banking profession and continued to enjoy painting as a hobby. By the mid 1980s however, Henderson had become convinced that art meant more to him than banking! In 1986 he moved to London in order to study painting, and to make his passion his profession. He has never looked back and now paints full time in his London studio. A seasoned traveller, Henderson has spent time in Europe, Australia and of course his native South America. While he loves the ocean and has always found it a source of inspiration and joy, he is also a true city-dweller, and many of his most inspirational works feature scenes from the world’s most beautiful cities. Painting in acrylic, oil or watercolour on canvas, Henderson’s trademark palette utilises cool, soft tones to convey the atmosphere of his subject. His works are regularly displayed in London galleries and at international art fairs. “I love the effect that weather has on the urban landscape and must confess to a particular fondness for the rain! Not only does it cast interesting shadows and reflections on the slick sidewalks, but it also dictates the stance of the figures. Their slightly defensive postures and hunched shoulders lend a very specific, and to my mind curiously engaging, mood to the overall scene.”   CLARKE, CAROL Carol was born in Worcestershire in 1957, and grew up in the Georgian town of Stourport. She began drawing and painting from a very early age and won two National Paintings competitions by the age of 11. Although she would have loved a career in the art world, she was also very mathematically minded and initially trained as a salaries and wages clerk within the NHS service, this she did for 8 years until she had a family in 1982. In 1987 she opened a gallery in her home town, and in the late 90’s with her family now grown, she was able to dedicate more time and pursue her wish to paint. She is very diverse in what she paints, from commissions of animals, buildings and also her contemporary side which is reflected in her landscapes and seascapes.   COOK, LEA Lea was born in Bradford in 1956 and lived there nearly all her life. For the last 20 years she has lived in Queensbury. She has always loved to draw from being a child and would draw women’s faces. At school she loved art and was very enthusiastic towards it but didn’t think she had any talent. Her art teacher was disappointed when she didn’t apply to go to Art College, instead moving into hairdressing. In her late 30’s Lea changed careers, starting to teach and use her art skills to full advantage. She teaches adult craft and gifts and creative card making. She has been doing this for 10 years and recently started teaching watercolour painting. The use of watercolour paint has always featured in her teaching, and started to paint seriously for herself about 6 years ago. Living in Queensbury gives her the opportunity to see rural life and the countryside. It also provides wonderful sunrises and sunsets that she constantly takes photographs of to use as references for her painting. Lea enjoys all aspects of painting and likes to experiment with colour, texture and form. Everything she produces is done with a love of the subject and looks forward to the next project with the same enthusiasm.   CORBETT, WENDY Although I did art to ‘A’ level standard I never really considered it as a career option as my real ambition was to work with animals. However, as a youngster I was discouraged by teachers from doing this, who suggested that I think of a ‘real’ job instead. This was reason that I actually ended up becoming a teacher. On doing this job I found that I was not suited to it at all and subsequently left with absolutely no idea what I was going to do. Over a period of time I tried my hand at a variety of jobs ranging from farming to forklift truck driving, with no real sense of direction. In my late 30`s I worked with my father as a sign writer and lettering artist for a number of years, until computers and modern technology, as with most people, did me out of a job. Again I had to rethink what career path I wanted to take. I had been experimenting again with my art in any spare time that I had, doing animal commissions and trying out different mediums and techniques. It had long been a dream of mine to live by the coast and one day I made a spur of the moment decision to move to Devon, with the intention of one day becoming a full-time artist. My first real opportunity to show my art came when the gallery in Kingsbridge, where I live, changed hands and I plucked up the courage to go and show them my portfolio. I was delighted when the owners took some pieces to try, and I’m glad to say that, I have not looked back since. I exhibit with them regularly, which leaves little time to do anything for anyone else. I have, however, submitted to and had work selected for P.A.W.S., a national wildlife art competition, and was delighted to win the monochrome section award. I have also had my work exhibited at the ‘Society of Wildlife Artists’ exhibition at the Mall Galleries.   COULSON, LAWRENCE Lawrence Coulson grew up surrounded by his famous father’s evocative paintings.  The artist had a great love and enthusiasm for cars and would often draw his favourite models repetitively on pieces of paper gleaned from his supportive father.  Unbelievably, his early love of all things artistic only earned him a D grade in the subject at school.  Business called as it always does to school leavers and Lawrence went into retailing and worked his way to the top of a local family firm as the sales and marketing manager. It was during this time that his father once again encouraged him to pursue his artistic talent by suggesting that he should try painting and in his professional opinion the paintings that followed were very encouraging. Several paintings and a months later the artist was given the opportunity to display some of his work in a local pub in Cambridge – no more than a week later he had sold his first painting for £30.00.  His painting continued throughout the eighties during any spare time that was available and gradually built up a good reputation with the galleries in his local area who were starting to sell more and more of his work. His “big break” came in the mid-nineties when a friend suggested he display his work at the restaurant he owned on a commission-free basis.  A private exhibition was held soon afterwards and many of his paintings were bought by galleries and art collectors alike. Over the next year, Lawrence Coulson was under pressure to work harder than ever before, using up every minute of his spare time to keep up with demand while still working his full-time job as manager. It was only at the point of complete exhaustion that he realised that a choice between the two careers had to be chosen.  Independence Day, 1997 he officially declared himself an artist. With galleries selling out and public interest forever rising, one could say that this artist has gone from strength to strength defying so-called academic odds and proving himself as a professional.   DAINES, SHERREE VALENTINE Sherree was born in Effingham in Surrey. After completing her early education, she studied at the Epsom School of Art, where she undertook a fine art course. A young, sensitive and highly accomplished artist, Sherree has a fascination and love for people and the social scene. This passion is shown through her impressionist style on canvas. Her paintings of Henley Regatta, Royal Ascot and more recently her images of tennis and golf, have made Sherree particularly renowned in the sporting world. Many will remember Sherree being featured on BBC Television painting the Test Cricket Grounds. Sherree is a highly accurate and factual artist. Her insistence on authenticity and her careful eye for detail has been recognised resulting in an important commission on the British Sporting Field which has enhanced her growing reputation as a prominent sporting artist. Sherree has had many successful exhibitions at venues such as the Mall Galleries, the Royal Portrait Society in London. Important collectors of her work include members of the Royal Family.   DARCY, DREW “I can remember drawing from an early age, and was first introduced to oil painting at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire. I revelled in the fact that I could make my indelible mark on my own canvas, just like the great painters before me. Hundreds of hours were spent in the ‘Art Room’, where I learnt many of the techniques I use today. I was given a great freedom in my art classes and achieved grade A's in GCSE and A-level Art & Design. Moving to Birmingham, I successfully completed a BTEC National Diploma in Art & Design at Bourneville Art College. In the time waiting for the paint to dry, I found that music and song writing was another creative output for me. I formed a guitar band and spent a few years performing all over the UK and Ireland. Music is still an abiding passion of mine. However I found myself continually drawn back to the canvas, and in 2002 I threw myself into my art and dedicated all my time into developing my own unique style that I hope will eventually lead me to stand out from the current leading artists of the world. After successfully exhibiting and selling my work in some carefully chosen galleries around the country, I later had the opportunity to show five new pieces at the Autumn Fair in Birmingham 2004. This was my opportunity to get a first hand reaction from art collectors, galleries and many of the larger publishing houses. I was overwhelmed with such a great response to my work and this was a huge boost to my confidence.”   DOMINGO Born in Barcelona in 1946. Having completed his studies in 1966, he spent several years illustrating numerous books and other publications and in 1971 he became sub-editor of an art magazine in Madrid. Whilst living in Madrid, he explored the techniques of pastels and was very successful in selling his work to the galleries in around the city and later in Southern France. During this time he began to develop an authoritative style and composition in the use of pastels, using a toned paper as an integral part of the background to his subject. His work quickly became recognised as being of exceptional quality and with his paintings selling with continual success; in 1975 he resigned from the magazine and became a fully professional artist. Domingo’s work is now collected and appears alongside many other contemporary artists standing who are distinguished painters in their own right. In the past five years, his work has appreciated considerably and he is now able to name his own price.   EVANS, TERRY Terry Evans was born in 1943 in Romford, Essex. He is a big, outgoing and popular man, which he modestly puts down to being born under the sign of Aries the Ram. He started painting for self-satisfaction; his subjects were portraits, racing-cars and dogs. He dabbled with watercolour and acrylics, and then he tried oils. He explains that this was a turning point in his career as he found the expressive freedom of working in paint that stayed workable for days. A second breakthrough came when he used oils to paint landscapes. By popular demand he turned professional and for many years he has enjoyed a runaway success. The renowned artist Charles Lefar inspired his unique and distinctive style. It is characteristic of Evans that he openly acknowledges the debt that he owes to the older artist. But Terry Evans has taken the approach further and developed it into a unique style of his own. An “Evans” is much more detailed and crisper in technique than his mentors work. Not only does Evans wield his palette knife with aplomb but he also adds fine subtle touches with a thin long–haired sable. He generously loads the canvas with oil paint, lavishly applied with gusto. The canvas groan under the weight of his impasto sculptured landscapes. The penny-pinching disciplines of formal fine art training are completely unobserved. Terry Evans has also added his own subject preferences to the style. The paintings tell of a wilderness with running water, rock, glades, pools, mountains, trees and flowers. His pictures are of unspoilt nature in the raw. Not even an old rotting fence-post is allowed to spoil these landscapes. No-where in an Evans will you find a trace of mankind? He has exhibited in his own one-man shows in Langres Gallery New York, Stravanger Norway, Rubens Gallery Miami, Singapore, London and elsewhere. His pictures ere collected by a wide public, among others, The Russian Ambassador to London, Barclays Bank and the Queen of Ghadaf Saudi Arabia. The Queen gave him a personal gift of an 18-carat gold pen and pencil set when he delivered her paintings! He says that he only wants to produce good work. The result is an abundance of lavish lush landscapes that exude a love of oil paint and a lust for organic unspoilt nature. The paintings are sensual and physically tactile, the observer wants to touch the paint, but beware, the paint stays wet for months.   FLINT, SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL In December 1969, Sir William Russell Flint died, aged 89, leaving behind one of the finest and most sought after collections of watercolours. Born in Edinburgh, 4th April 1880, his remarkable talent was discovered at an early age. Having been a student at the Royal Institution School of Art in Edinburgh, and serving a six year apprenticeship at a large printing works, he decided to move to London to become a medical illustrator at the age of 20. In 1903 he joined the Illustrated London News which took his talents to the far reaches of the British Empire thanks to its extensive distribution. He married Sibylle Sueter in 1905 and eventually became a freelance artist in 1907 which lead him to illustrate a number of classical limited editions such as Mallory's 'Morte D'Arthur', Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales' and Homer's 'Odyssey'. He served in the First World War and became Admiralty Assistant Overseer - Airships. This took him back to his native Scotland, where in 1919 he painted a tiny watercolour called' Hilda's Bonnet' on the linen of a fragment of HM Airship 24 which he had previously commanded. Post World War I, William Russell Flint's artistic career began to flourish. He painted in France and Spain (until the Civil War), where he produced wonderful paintings reflecting the local scenery and culture. He was elected Associate of the Royal Academy in 1924, full member in 1933 and in 1936 became President of the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolour. After living in Devon during the Second World War, he and his wife moved back to London where the post war period became Russell Flint's greatest. His talent with both the watercolour medium and his skill in depicting the female form created a hallmark style which would later become legendary. In 1947 William Russell Flint was knighted. In 1962 his work was acknowledged by a retrospective exhibition in the Diploma Gallery of the Royal Academy. At the time, Charles Wheeler, the President, paid tribute to the artist, describing his watercolour technique as a 'baffling skill'.   FORD, ROB “I can remember wanting to stay late at primary school to finish my painting and if I remember correctly, I took the specialised art of 'drawing on walls' to a new level. During my years at Felsted in Essex, my main interest was always in the art room. It was something that I felt confident with and had great enthusiasm for. After leaving school I continued to paint and draw and developed an interest in the history of painting. This interest led me to apply to my local college to study an art course. Rembrandt, Van-Gogh and Delacroix were particular favourites of mine. On completion of my college course, I really wanted to find some sort of employment that would make use of my skills. I did a variety of jobs which went on until one day, I came across a small business called 'Round the Corner' who specialised in 'Theme' restaurants. I continually pestered the manager to let me design a mural for them and before long I had secured a job doing what I always wanted to do - painting. My ideas and inspirations come from just about anywhere - from the ring left by the morning cuppa to the light of an evening sunset. With my most recent landscape paintings, the idea is a simple one. The inspiration comes from my local landscape. When I first moved to the east coast I found the landscapes frustrating. Gone were the landmarks, the mountains that I loved as a child in Wales, the rushing streams and the wooded glens, but I have learned to love the land that surrounds me, the changes in colours throughout the year from partly flooded fields of flint and mud in the winter, to seas of billowing wheat fields in the summer. I have come to realise that it is not what you see, but how you see it.”   FORREST, TONY "My artistic ability emerged at a very early age. At the age of eight I have a clear memory of having a fascination with ‘paint by numbers,’ and painting overtook any other form of amusement. I’m happy to say that I no longer use this artificial technique! During my secondary school years in Devon I excelled in art, and by the end of my school life, art seemed the most appropriate and natural career path for me to follow. The big catalyst for me, however, was watching a film about the work of David Shepherd. It was so exciting and inspiring that it immediately sparked off my interest in painting wildlife in oils. After leaving college in Cornwall in 1982, I gradually made the transition from technical illustration to oil painting over the following eight years. By 1990 I was painting wildlife full-time, and following my first solo exhibition at Marwell Hall (Marwell Zoological Park) in Hampshire, I began my regular visits to Africa. I have been traveling to various countries in Africa ever since and feel that my work improves with each exciting trip, as well as my understanding of the natural world. The inspiration for the work I do comes from the animals and the landscapes that I see around me. Hardly a day goes by when I don’t see something that makes me wonder what it would look like as a painting! I always try to imagine how I could ‘improve’ the real thing and create a more powerful effect in paint. It is largely the light and atmosphere around the subject that makes me want to paint it. Given the choice of a cheetah with no light or a dead tree in glorious sunlight – I would sooner paint the tree. Whenever possible I also like to remind people about conservation. It has been said many times before, but we really are the only destructive creatures on this fragile planet. If we don’t look after this world, which belongs to all life - not just the human race, we and everything else around us will eventually suffer the consequences."   GELDART, WILLIAM Born in Marple, Cheshire, 65 years ago, Bill Geldart was educated at Hyde Grammar school. His earliest memories are of drawing scenes from neighbouring woodlands and impressions of Saturday matinees. After National Service working as a photographer with an RAF fighter squadron based in Germany, he spent some time at the Regional College of Art in Manchester and was in and out of a series of poorly paid and boring jobs before joining Cheshire Life magazine, eventually becoming Art Editor for six years. He decided to 'go it alone' in 1979 and today he works from his home in Henbury near Macclesfield in Cheshire where he and his wife Anne also run the Geldart Gallery. Bill travels extensively abroad - one drawing trip took him to Hong Kong for four weeks - and has enjoyed book and magazine illustration as well as commissions from such bodies as Manchester International Airport, The Sunday Times and the Halle Orchestra. Bills subjects range from scenes in and around the north -west to characters both real and imaginary and he has exhibited in some of the UK's most prestigious galleries and even had a BBC television documentary made about his life and work. Bill still spends his days drawing the places, people and animals he so loves and is enjoying his greatest popularity among his many admirers.   GILKES, JONATHAN Jonathan Gilkes, an Artist whose supreme skill and versatility recognise no boundaries, has long been acknowledged as one of the nation's finest painters of the female form. Now, with the publication of his first wildlife studies, Jonathan Gilkes is destined to achieve the same status in this genre, not only because of the hyper-real nature of his images, but because his techniques with light and texture, his sheer skill and artistry, breathe living movement into his subjects. Born in 1963, Jonathan Gilkes studied at Camberwell School of Art where he specialised in Life Drawing and the study of Art History, in particular the Dutch Masters of whom De Heem and Vermeer have most influenced his work. A traditionalist who totally rejects modern paintings aids and shortcuts, Jonathan Gilkes invests inestimable hours of painstaking work into every image he creates, working scientifically with the inherent properties of his medium, building layer upon layer of paint and glaze until he achieves the smoothest of surface finishes and perfect realism in tone and texture.   GOFFE, TONI Toni Goffe studied painting and illustration at Southampton College of Art in Hampshire between 1952-1956, gaining a National Diploma in Design. On completing the course, he moved to London where he freelanced as an illustrator within an advertising agency, while also playing professionally in many notable jazz bands. Throughout this period, he continued to study painting with a number of private teachers and also started illustrating children's books on a freelance basis. In 1960, Toni Goffe married and moved back to Hampshire where he and his wife started The Pendulum Gallery in Selborne, specialising first in natural history subjects and later modern paintings. The Gallery also provided Toni with a platform to exhibit his own illustrations, original gouaches and pastels, as well as those of other local artists. In 1982, he moved to Boston, USA, to direct The John Stobart Gallery on Lewis Wharf, concentrating solely on oil painting and being privileged to study the medium with John Stobart. He exhibited in numerous galleries along the East Coast between 1982 and 1985, in both mixed and one-man shows. Toni Goffe returned to Hampshire in England with his family in 1985, continuing to work freelance as an illustrator and painter. His landscapes and seascapes won him great acclaim, with exhibitions both in the UK and Ireland. His local gallery, The Allen Galley in Alton, has held a one-man exhibition of his work regularly over the last ten years, and his work continues to be in much demand across the Home Counties as well as further afield. He received formal recognition for his work in 1993 when he received the Gold Medallion Book Award for his illustrations for the children's book, 'Just In Case You Ever Wonder'. He joined Washington Green in 1999, with six of his originals produced as lithographs featuring his pet cats Mungo and Mingus.   GOLDSBROUGH, RAY Ray Goldsbrough, as a youngster living in Sunderland, spent a lot of his free time drawing, and by the age of 13, his art teacher helped Goldsbrough to get into Sunderland Art College as a day release student. Eventually Goldsbrough went on to study full-time at the college, initially on a year's General Studies course, then on to a three year Graphic Art course, more commonly known then, as Commercial Art. On leaving college with his portfolio, Goldsbrough was employed by one of the biggest print firms in Newcastle and was taught the finer aspects of commercial art, lettering, logos, finished art and illustrations- a great foundation for the work he now does for Solomon & Whitehead Publishers. About 11 years ago, Ray Goldsbrough was offered the opportunity to take early retirement - computers cannot take the place of a drawing board and paintbrush! So he decided to 'go it alone' and pursue what had been a hobby and turn it into a career. At first, he completed work mainly for family and friends, but an ex-colleague who was a follower of Motor sport, and had seen a gap in the market of motor racing art, approached Ray. A copy of a picture of Jim Clark, which he had been commissioned to paint was sent to the Motor sport magazine with a press release and this led to various commissions and exhibiting work at various motor sport events. In 1995, Ray Goldsbrough was approached by Solomon & Whitehead who asked him to produce a painting of Carl Fogarty for publication, and the rest as they say, is history. Some ten Limited Editions have been published in the 'Foggy' series and have all Sold-Out. The only medium Ray Goldsbrough has used is gouache (watercolors) - he has not dared to venture away from the tried and tested materials that he was brought up with. Goldsbrough feels that over the last seven years, his style has changed and that he has become more daring with the use of vibrant colour, which is not lost in the Publishing process.   GOVINDER Govinder Nazran trained at Bradford Art College, where he studied Graphic Design in the early 80's.He went on to study at London Art College, completing a Diploma in Graphic Design, specialising in Illustration, in 1985. After six months in London, he moved to Cambridge and continued to work in Freelance illustration. After getting a job as a designer for a greetings card company with responsibility for product design he moved back to Bradford in 1987. In 1990 he joined an artists' agency, working on licensing, product development and directing photographic shoots which handed him a prestigious position as a photographic art director with a mail order catalogue. He spent the next year travelling around the world on fashion shoots. In 93 Govinder Nazran returned to working freelance on card designs and having built up a reputation through his work, he approached the fine art market with thoughts of getting his designs published. Govinder entered the fine art market in 1999 and has since published a number of silk-screens and lithographs. He was recently voted The Best-Selling Published Artist 2004.      HARRIS, CHRISTINA Christina Harris has been painting for as long as she can remember but it is only within the last two years that her work has been available to the public. After attending Leeds Art College she followed a career in teaching until, deciding life is too short, gave it up in November 2004 to become a full-time artist. Christina uses paint to great effect to create the depth of fleece found in many breeds of sheep, whilst the simplicity of a grey or white background serves to emphasis the lonely, uncompromising moods of a Yorkshire winter. Her work is regularly featured in exhibitions, with occasional individual shows, all of which have been very successful. She is now represented at selected galleries in Yorkshire, Cumbria, and London and her work, often special commissions, has travelled out to Australia, Canada, France, USA and Japan, as well as being widely collected in the UK.   HARRIS, ROLF Rolf Harris’ love of art began as early as he can remember. Even at Primary School whenever anyone asked him “What are you going to be when you grow up?” his immediate response was “An artist … AND a good one!” At secondary school his inspirational art master, Frank Mills, recognised and nurtured his natural talent. After leaving school Rolf studied to become a teacher, but continued drawing and painting every spare moment. Rolf left Australia aged 22 to study painting in England. The trip was financed by and large by the four exhibitions of paintings he had held previously in his home town of Perth. He enrolled at the City & Guilds Art School in London, wanting to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and become a portrait painter. That was his main aspiration in life. However he found himself doing all sorts of things that didn’t really interest him, such as etching. A chance meeting at Earl’s Court tube station with Australian impressionist painter ‘Bill’ Hayward Veal changed his life. As a teenager in Perth, Western Australia, Veal’s work in the local art gallery had impressed Rolf so much that on a trip to Sydney with the West Australian swimming team, he had tried, unsuccessfully, to meet Bill with a view to being taught by him. At the time of their meeting in London Bill was running an art course, and though Rolf couldn’t afford it he went along anyway. “In this class I tried to impress him with thickly daubed oils on canvas paper, but Bill gave me a real canvas and told me to set up some bottles and other items that I would like to paint. He gave me a brush, some burnt sienna, some rag and a bottle of turpentine and told me to see how little paint I could use. Instead of painting isolated individual parts he told me to tackle the whole canvas all the time. I still do this now, starting off very rough and rugged and then refining later. After the course, Rolf became Veal’s protégé. In the mid 50’s Rolf’s paintings were exhibited in the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy for two consecutive years, and recently he received an honorary membership from the Royal Society of British Artists. In December 2000, the Harris family held their first ever art show together at the Halcyon Gallery in Birmingham when the works of Rolf – together with the works of his wife Alwen and their daughter Bindi – formed part of an eclectic exhibition of paintings, jewellery, sculpture and etching. In 2001 Rolf’s BBC television programme Rolf on Art attracted over 24.5 million viewers over a period of four weeks, gaining the highest ratings ever for a programme on the visual arts in the history of television. Last year saw a follow up to the hugely successful series along with the launch of a book, Rolf on Art to accompany it. An exhibition of Rolf’s signed limited editions toured the country, whilst in November 2002 Rolf received one of the greatest honours possible for any artist when the bulk of his work from the two series of Rolf on Art, was exhibited for a month at the National Gallery, before transferring to the Halcyon Gallery in Mayfair.   HEFFERAN, ROB Born in Manchester in 1968, Rob was a true free spirit from the very beginning. Desperate to follow an artistic career he found discouragement round every corner, with the exception of his art teacher who recognised that his gift was a rare and unbridled one. Intent on following his dream, he gained a place at university to study for a degree in illustration, but after a year he began to feel constrained by the limitations of the course and decided to go it alone. Rob spent a challenging year putting together a portfolio, then set out to find work utilising his design skills in order to finance his dream of being an artist. His exceptional versatility as a designer and illustrator won him a number of major contracts, ranging from high profile advertising campaigns to providing the artwork for children's books, and he soon found himself in the gratifying position of making a large amount of money from doing something he really enjoyed. Yet he never allowed his considerable success to deflect him from his original aim of becoming a full time artist, and continued to spend much of his spare time painting. Rob is always on the look out for new styles and techniques to dissect, and his work grows and changes as he absorbs a broad range of influences. His latest figurative pieces are beautifully delicate compositions completed after painstaking photographic sessions with real models. Each image is a fascinating blend of intricate foreground detail with broader brush strokes used to create an atmospheric backdrop. His work has been greeted with great enthusiasm and much acclaim on the fine art market, confirming his position as one of the most exciting rising stars on the contemporary art scene.   HIGGS, WARWICK Born in London, Warwick left college at the age of 21 to pursue his vocation full-time as a painter. Being a keen naturalist, animals and birds provided the main inspiration for his paintings. His first one-man exhibition was in London in 1976. It was a near sell-out and afforded Warwick the first of many trips to the United States, where he found a considerable amount of interest in his work and a good market for his paintings. Increasing demand for his work has enabled him to support his chosen charities. Warwick comments that "I am constantly aware of how fortunate and lucky I am to be a painter. I love the wildlife that I paint and if I bring pleasure to those who view my paintings, then I feel I have succeeded in my work". Warwick lives in Surrey where he also has his studio. He has completed numerous commissions for the advertising industry, charities, corporations and publishers and his work is included in collections in Europe, Japan and USA. The first titles in the 'Images to Make You Smile' series were published in 1995 and were an immediate success with new images being added every year. In 1996 and 1999 Warwick was nominated as a finalist in The Fine Art Trade Guild Awards and in 1997 he won the Best Up and Coming Artist Award as well as the Gift of the Year Award for 'The Owl and The Pussycat'.   HILTON, BARRY Barry was born in 1941 in Manchester. Whilst having no formal training, he moved to Cornwall in 1979 where the experience of working alongside a group of extremely active artists helped in the development of his artistic abilities. This is a story of continuing development. He was told that "selling and success are synonymous" and should this be true then he could certainly be called successful. His love of nostalgia which he captures in his paintings of Gas Light Street and Marine scenes are much sought after and are well represented in private galleries throughout the UK. However Barry refuses to be stereotyped and has recently had considerable success with beach scenes and still life, painted in a very modern style.   HODGE, SPENCER Spencer Hodge was born in 1943, and attended the Hastings School of Art and Royal West of England Academy. After a formal and academic art training he spent six years illustrating books and teaching material for the Medical Research Council. The dissection and drawing of the human body which this work involved gave him a profound understanding of the mechanics and structure of form. After leaving England, Spencer Hodge travelled widely, undertaking long field trips for international conservation organisations such as the World Wide Fund for Nature. He journeyed to places such as India, West Africa, the United Arab Emirates and, particularly, the game rich areas of Tanzania and Kenya. Many of these trips culminated in successful exhibitions to raise funds for specific conservation projects including, for example, a Bahamas National Trust exhibition under the patronage of, and opened by, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh which targeted the rare Bahamian Parrot. Spencer Hodge has acquired a reputation as one of the finest wildlife artists this century, and he counts HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HSH Prince Rainier amongst his many admirers. His work is exhibited by leading galleries throughout Europe and America and over 40 of his limited edition prints have now been published. Spencer Hodge’s passion for nature and wildlife has proved to be an inexhaustible source of inspiration throughout his career. The many hundreds of hours spent studying wild animals and birds in their natural habitat are truly reflected in the precision and realism of his dramatic work.   HODGES, GARY Gary Hodges was born in 1954, and has had a deep love for nature since childhood. In 1979 he began applying his keen sense of observation to his drawings and is now Britain's leading wildlife pencil artist. He gave up his day job around 1989 to concentrate on his drawings and, shortly afterwards, began to publish his limited edition prints himself. By retaining control of every stage, from drawing, to publishing, to selling, Gary has never had to compromise on the very high standards he has set himself. He is a genuinely sincere and generous human being who cares quietly, but passionately, about the conservation of the animals he draws. Through his drawings he has already raised his first quarter of a million pounds for charity and is well on his way towards the second quarter million - a phenomenal achievement for one individual in such a short time. Gary Hodges drawings stand out from the crowd because he combines a remarkable technical ability with a deep feeling for the subject and a sensitive understanding of its individual character. His sense of design and composition, often focussing on only a part of the animal, always results in a striking image that demands the viewer's attention and thought. Others have tried to achieve the same effect in pencil, but the result often looks ordinary by comparison. He may use very many different grades of pencil in a drawing. Each grade is put to good effect as he painstakingly builds up tones and textures, working on small areas at a time. The range of textures he creates - tough hide, fluffy fur, preened feathers, dry scales - is extraordinary. Often there is a touch of humour - the big paw or menacing tooth - but in the end it is the eye that fixes itself upon the viewer. It is here that he begins each drawing.   HORTON, PAUL Paul wanted to be an artist for as long as he can recall, thanks mainly to his art teacher who made art such an enjoyable subject. He studies drawing and painting at Bourneville School of Art, after which he set out on a career within the printing industry. In 1997 he turned professional, concentrating full time on art. Paul is gaining a reputation as one of the leading contemporary pastel artists. His paintings emerge from a world of imagination with a unique and inspired view of the world; whether reflecting everyday life or featuring a wonderful assortment of quirky colourful characters. His work is often humorous and rich in pathos and symbolism - a world that is both poignant and optimistic. He likes to think of his art as opening the door for people to enter his world of imagination and make of it what they will.   HUNT, ALAN Alan Hunt began painting at the age of eight, when his mother gave him a box of paints to occupy him as he recuperated from an illness. He started off painting birds, which had fascinated him from an early age, but soon moved on to capture on canvas the natural world around him. First studying art at Middlesbrough Art College, Alan then decided to study zoology at Leeds College and Bristol University. His first solo exhibition was held in his home town of Redcar at the age of 18 and, since then, his work has been shown in museums, galleries, public and private collections world-wide. Alan has received international acclaim, winning The Society of Animal Artists’ USA Award of Excellence on four occasions and The Wildlife Art Society’s UK Best Artist On Show for three consecutive years. He has been the lead artist at five exhibitions in the US, and in 1998 was the first non-American to be voted on to the American Wildlife Art Hall Of Fame. In 1999, he was chosen as Artist of the Year for the Florida Wildlife Art Expo. His work continues to attract huge interest at major auctions including Sotheby’s, Bonham's and Christie’s. Alan continues to teach field painting and lead study trips across the globe. Speaking about his work, Alan commented, “As a wildlife artist and conservationist, I have grave concerns for the environment and believe it needs as much support as I can possibly give, whether financially or as a spokesman. “I share these convictions with many like-minded people around the world – but over the years, I have come to realise that the ‘major powers’ of this world are determined to destroy all life either directly or indirectly! Selling armaments indiscriminately, and hence fuelling wars, may reduce or control a small proportion of the world’s population, but wars are disastrous for the environment. “Wars hit third-world countries hardest, making them poorer and this in turn increases the misuse of the environment, as its easier and cheaper to cut and burn forests and kill all wildlife than to manage the land well for future generations. We need farming expertise and equipment not weaponry! We must protect this planet, its wildlife and the environment that we are now an integral part of”.   HUTCH Roger Hutchings was born in Middlesex in 1943 into a family where artistic endeavour was as much a part of day-to-day life as breathing. His mother was well versed in an impressive range of arts and crafts, whilst his father was an extremely talented painter who spent much of his spare time sharing his love for painting with his three sons. At the age of 10 Roger sadly lost his father, but continued to develop his own artistic education. When Roger left school his artistic skills had been so finely honed that he immediately found a position working as an illustrator for a publications company. At the age of 20, he and his brother decided to set up a studio together in the heart of Soho. London in the swinging sixties was an exciting place to be, and they were overwhelmed with work in the fields of design, animation and book illustration. At the beginning of the 1970s, Roger relocated to Yorkshire, having never been north of Watford Gap. He worked here for ten years as an Art Director until the company he worked for was taken over and he was forced to look at his life and decide what would be best for him and his family. It was at this time he decided to go back to the drawing board as he craved more creativity. He now lives in Bath where he paints in his own studio overlooking green fields and can give his full attention to painting for pleasure. Hutch as he is now known creates charming images that present a range of engaging characters in intriguing situations that capture the viewers imagination. His unique use of colour and shape provide a contemporary backdrop illustrating his distinctive style.   HYDE, DOUG Born in Bristol in 1972, Doug became aware of his artistic talent at an early age. Throughout his school and college education he concentrated on the technical side of drawing and painting, but after graduation he was in no doubt as to his chosen career, that of a professional artist. Doug prefers to produce his distinctive artwork on a large scale, in order to achieve maximum impact with each piece. He also enjoys operating in plenty of space, thus allowing himself enough physical freedom to express the creative energy that is the key to his fresh, contemporary style. His unorthodox use of pastels applied with fingers and thumbs or even the side of a hand or wrist allows him to create highly communicative and engaging images that make an immediate and lasting impression on the viewer. Inspired by his own emotional responses to life, Doug's intention is to provoke an emotional response in others; his success in this aim can be seen by the huge impact his newly released collection has made on the British art scene. As one of the UK's most innovative and uplifting young artists, we look forward to his inevitable rise with great excitement!   JACKSON, MIKE Mike Jackson was born in Manchester in 1962. He grew up in a close knit working class family. His claim to fame is that his Grandad was a good friend of L.S. Lowry. Although Mike had artistic aspirations from a young age, he realised that the most important thing to do was to get a "proper job" first. This he did, beginning his working life as a Butcher. Since then he has followed many career paths (Policeman, Operating Theatre Technician) and eventually decided to train as a Graphic Designer. During his time training he would produce small illustrations, children portraits and line drawings for commercial and private clients in order to make ends meet. His work has been received in Australia, America and Africa. Ranging from children's books to fine art paintings. In 1999 he moved to Somerset with his wife and two children. This is where inspiration flowed. The beautiful colours of the Somerset countryside and the sounds of the coast were enough to let his imagination run riot. He started painting all sorts from local scenes to wildlife. Eventually he found his niche and started producing designs for greeting cards. Mike has now turned his attention to fine art, endeavouring to bring together bright colours, along with the cutie factor. "In my work, I try to depict the important elements of family life, using cutie characters to show family at it's best - loving, caring and having fun. I also want my paintings to brighten up rooms where they hang." "But most of all, I just want my paintings to make people smile..."   JOHNSTON, STEVE Born in Glasgow in 1956 Steve grew up in Dumfries and studied at art school. Upon leaving, he became an apprentice electrician for a brief period, as he was uncertain of where his artistic path led. In 1973, Carlisle College offered him a placement, where, during the second year, he opted for a change in medium, preferring photography to painting. He found black & white formats extremely inspiring and exciting to work with, seeing himself in fact as an artist but utilising a camera rather than paint. Upon leaving college he moved to London where he did freelance work for teen magazines, which led to work for Vogue in 1977, where his work was included in the ‘Pink Punk Book’ published in 1978. This style of photo launched the first issue of i-D magazine in 1980, where he worked for the following few years. In 1991, when photography no longer became inspirational for him, he started painting seriously again concentrating once again on the medium that he had originally embraced. “It was then that something clicked and I have not looked back since……painting is my life.” He is always drawn to figures that create a great shape. Details such as ‘how’ someone is standing or ‘what’ they are doing come into play afterwards. It is the graphic shape of the ‘body mass’ that inspires the first ideas. Certain images can unlock powerful emotions which are separate from what the actual content of the picture could create if focused on in more detail. He attempts to take the voyeur somewhere with a sense of the familiar that has an almost ephemeral and ethereal quality, rather than somewhere specific. With the same reasoning, he does not depict figures to be anyone in particular. “The aim is to portray an essence and emotion rather than a well defined and precise person or location, as I am not interested in set narrative pieces.”   KIRK, JOEL Joel Kirk was born in Dorking, Surrey in 1948.  He lived there for the duration of his father's service in the Coldstream Guards.  When his father left the regiment the family moved to Leigh-on-Sea in Essex. Joel's talent for art became apparent at a very early age.  His love of wildlife gave the subject matter for a series of successfully won art competitions during his school years.  After leaving school Joel worked for a time on a fishing boat in the Thames estuary.  It was then he acquired his interest in seascapes and various seacraft, especially the Thames barge, a particular favourite of his. In 1972 Joel was accepted into the Southend College of Art where he successfully studied for three years, after which he became a freelance artist working for a number of publishing houses.  During this time a wide range of Joel's work was published for the small print market, these were to include a series of wildlife studies, wildflowers, landscapes and Joel's Thames Barges.  Four limited editions were also published and several original works have been sold in Harrods, one in particular, a study of an Arabian stallion was sold within hours of being hung. In 1984 Joel, his wife Barbara and their daughter Tina, moved from Leigh-on-Sea to Poole in Dorset and a selection of his most recent work can now be viewed there. Joel is still involved with publishing and is now art consultant to a new publishing company which he helped to set up.  Publishing has played a major part in his career as an artist.   Joel's name and work are now known in America, Australia and throughout Europe and the British Isles.   KURTIS, ANDREW GRANT Born in London, Andrew has always shown a great love for art, even when very young. This was pursued in latter years whilst working in industry, where he obtained the City and Guilds diploma. Continuing his studies at Technical College in London he gained Licentiateship to the Society of Industrial Artists and Designers. He then continued his education in Graphic Design and History of Art at the Central School of Art and Design where he successfully completed a Bachelor of Design degree with honours, progressing through to postgraduate studies where he attained a Master of Arts degree. Having worked for many years producing oil paintings on general landscape, equestrian, architectural and marine subjects, Andrew has established himself mainly to landscape - especially drawn towards the beautiful mountainous regions of Scotland and Wales, of which he richly embellishes with a unique method of atmospheric perspective, capturing all that is typical of a panoramic view on a sunny summer's day, the play of light on clouds, land and water following 'laws of nature' to dictate the ever changing moods being captured in oil paint, by preparing his own pigments and mediums carefully by hand, he maintains the science and craft of oil painting traditions. In Andrew's paintings we see all the depth and thoroughness, all the devotion and patience with which he studies nature, from the giant mountain ranges to the gossamer lacework of the leaves, from the intricate forms of the clouds in the sky to a sequestered forest shading wild flowers and woodland plants. Solitude and tranquillity is seen to permeate throughout his paintings using a palette of pure colours to produce his recognisable ensemble of subtle tints, in order to create a painting characterised by a specific technique of portraying light-suffused, translucent and pure colouring, which tends to emphasize the richness of the tones and to enliven the various colours with shades of differing density. His sunlight infiltrates the forest depths or appears in flashes amid the distant trees, forming an emotional cohesiveness to landscape compositions. The various elements of luscious landscape mirrored in tranquil lakes or echoed in the refraction of trickling streams, these are the attractions that inspire Andrew to paint, and using a painterly manner approach to his work we see the many shades of prime colours, the complex colour graduations, and variety of methods used to apply the paint, all bear witness to the artist's conscientious efforts at achieving expressiveness in the depiction of nature. He has had many graphic designs published and his paintings are established throughout the world, being collected and admired by connoisseurs and patrons of fine art.   LARDNER, REBECCA Rebecca was born in Swanage, Dorset in 1971. After completing an Art Foundation Course she graduated from the University of Liverpool with a BA Honours degree in Illustration. She went on to build a highly successful career as an artist and illustrator, fulfiling commissions for a number of high-profile clients including Paul McCartney’s Music Academy, as well as a range of magazines and record sleeves. Influenced by Cornish artist Alfred Wallis, Rebecca’s distinctive oils on canvas are beautifully depicted portrayals of life on the land and the sea. The large ensemble cast of figures, boats and sea birds creates an impression of ceaseless activity, and this is heightened by the natural curves of the classic English harbour which provide movement and energy. Her palette is based strongly on the colours of the sea, with blues, greens and greys dominating the entire canvas. Rebecca is now able to devote more time to her painting and has travelled the world from Ireland to India undertaking prestigious corporate commissions. She has exhibited in a range of high calibre galleries in the UK, Europe and the USA and her evocative oils sell to collectors from all over the world.   LINSELL, TONY Born in London in 1947 Tony was brought up in a post-war society where the public perception of art was altering on a daily basis. Obviously talented even from an early age, Tony spent his free time drawing and painting from imagination rather than life. He hoped to take up some kind of artistic career so embarked on a three year course entitled "Studio Practice". Here he learned many things, not least how to illustrate in a range of styles, and he has made a living ever since working on an extraordinary array of books and illustration projects. At the same time he was pursuing his personal agenda - that of becoming a professional "fine" artist painting for himself rather than fulfilling commissions for others. In 2005 Tony's work was spotted by DeMontfort Fine Art, the UK's leading international art publisher, who immediately saw its potential to win over the nation's art lovers. Tony's fascinating personality and innate sense of fun which shines through in everything he does immediately wowed the team of directors! Now based in Norfolk, Tony has a studio in his home where he spends his time gathering inspiration from such disparate sources as a solo dance by Fred Astaire, the swing of a stylish coat on a beautiful woman, and even the big philosophical questions that haunt us all in modern life… but all with a smile on his face! A subtle, deadpan humour makes his whimsical acrylics uniquely engaging and his desire to "get it right" with everything he does guarantees artwork that is always carefully rendered and perfectly finished.   MACGREGOR, DUNCAN Born in Oxford in 1961, Duncan grew up in the Midlands where he still spends a substantial part of the year. Despite living so far inland, he managed to develop a passion for the sea, and spent a highly significant eighteen months sailing across the Atlantic and then around the coast of Britain. He now spends part of the year back home in the Midlands, and the rest of the time in Scotland. Taking his inspiration from the surrounding landscape and of course the sea, Duncan is particularly fascinated by the effects of natural light on colour. His distinctive palette conveys the cool yet vibrant shades of sea and sky as they appear to his artist’s eye. Verging on the abstract, his work is characterised by the dense application of richly textured acrylics, which create a sense of spontaneity and unstoppable energy. Since turning professional, Duncan has enjoyed immense success, displaying his work in both galleries and private collections.   MADJID Madjid, born in 1943 in Teheran, comes from a well known Persian family of artists. 25 Years ago he came to Germany. He lives partly in Hamm (Germany), partly on Mallorca. His works are represented in important art collections in Europe, USA and Asia. The artist signs off with three different names, Pan, Madjid, Rhanavardkar. Rhanavardkar Madjid paints like he lives. With energy, with power, yet with the tenderness of the strong. What moves us in Madjid is the sound of his unconsciously-impressionistic character. To all things he shapes, he attributes his powerful vitality. His subjects - people, flowers, landscapes - have their own expressive existence. The visible is dynamically defined and projected from the unsecurity of light and movement by expressive brushstrokes. Born in Teheran in 1943, into the renowned Rhanavardkar family of Persian artists. He began to paint at the age of 16 under the tutelage of his prominent grandfather and talented brother, Anousch. Immediately people were captivated by his effervescent painting style, because Madjid paints like he lives, with energy and power, yet with the tenderness of the confident. In 1959, Madjid was awarded the Iran-French RASI prize for painting. A year later, he won that competition’s first prize for sculpture. Madjid furthered his talent under the tutelage of Messrs. Zöllner and Huber in Munich. Madjid’s unique style combines the techniques of impressionism with the vibrancy and intensity of expressionism, a style that he continues to follow today. In 1966, the artist was featured at Teheran’s ARSEN gallery in a series of successful one-man and group exhibitions. Over the years, Madjid has maintained a solid reputation and following. He has lived in Munich for over three decades and is one of the city’s most respected artists on the contemporary scene. Today, Madjid’s work can be found in prestigious collections throughout Europe, Asia, and the USA. Madjid paints with a rich vitality that touches the viewer on a subconscious level. As the viewer travels across rows of trees or fields that stretch in the distance, he or she is caught off guard by the interplay of intense light, shadow, and brilliant colour. This, combined with the artist’s technique of sudden, strong line, produces a striking and profound effect. Through his lifelong dedication to his profession, Madjid has rightly earned the title of contemporary master.    MALLOR, MARISA Marisa Mallor was born in Alicante, Spain in 1942. She is one of those artists who had a natural talent from a very early age, she just liked to draw. As she matured she painted more and more, she was also gathering around her fellow artists who she became very good friends with, they helped and encouraged her to go the School of Art in Alcoy. They could see her natural talent but felt she needed discipline and structure to help her reach her full potential, which I think you will agree she has succeeded in doing. Her fine eye for detail is second to none, everyone who looks at her paintings stand back in sheer admiration, and are left with the thought 'how does she do it?' well in her case it is born with a talent and working from there, with the help of good friends.   MILLAR, ALEXANDER Alexander Millar was born in 1960 into the small mining community of Springside a few miles outside the town of Kilmarnock on the west coast of Scotland. Life within the small Scottish village was very traditional and although Millar grew up in the 60’s era it felt more like the 40’s. Alexander Millar's formative years were spent in the company of old men dressed in dark suits smoking woodbines partnered with large missile-shaped women decked out in headscarves and pinnies. Millar's father worked for British Rail and he got great pleasure from simply sitting in the atmospheric steam filled stations which even today Millar finds are the most romantic, nostalgic places to be. Many of Alexander Millar's most romantic paintings are set within that very atmosphere. Alexander Millar escaped school in 1976 and eventually fled Springside to set himself up in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This jump from sleepy peacefulness to hustle and bustle was like going from the frying pan straight into the fire. Alexander Millar found Newcastle had, and still has, its fair share of characters locally known as ‘Gadgies’ which fed him much inspiration later on in life when he finally discovered his destiny as an artist. After a number of different jobs Millar finally settled down in 1988 to become a professional artist. Alexander Millar is completely self-taught and after many years of developing his own style in art, Millar turned to images remembered from his childhood and used the local Tyneside ‘Gadgies’ as models in his paintings. The past couple of years have been especially exciting for Alexander Millar, as his work has taken on a life of its own. Sales have gone through the roof and everyone seems to be taking notice of these solitary figures he creates. Millar is continually surprised to see the effects that his paintings have on people, on many occasions Millar has had women moved to tears absorbed by a painting that evokes memories of their father or grandfather. After a number of sell out exhibitions one Alexander Millar's paintings was entered in the Daily Mail’s ‘Not the Turner Prize’. Ten thousand works were entered and Millar's painting was chosen as one of the finalists which were exhibited at the Mall Galleries in London.   MOSELEY, AUSTIN Austin was born in 1930 in Tiverdale, which in those days was part of South Staffordshire. After qualifying as an engineer he took up a career as a lecturer based at the University of Wolverhampton. For many years therefore his artwork was forced into second place, but since his retirement he has been able to devote the majority of his time to doing what he loves and his atmospheric paintings have become highly sought-after. Austin’s richly textured, evocative compositions are created in oils with the exclusive use of a palette knife. His primary interest is in the countryside and rural pursuits of the Black Country, especially in the early morning and evening, when the sun is low whether visible or not. He includes figures to add an element of human interest as well as a suggestion of scale. These tend to introduce a certain lightness and almost gently humourous touch to each image. Austin’s work has been displayed to great acclaim all across the UK.   MURRAY, TOM Tom Murray, LBIPP, holds a variety of international awards for his photography, including newspaper and magazine assignments, theatre and advertising, featured cover assignments and specialist portrait commissions worldwide. During his career he has worked alongside some of the world's greatest photographers including, Helmut Newton, Lord Snowdon, Eve Arnold, Norman Parkinson, Bill Connors, Bill King and Guy Bourdin. Tom began his working life as a newspaper photographer - for four years he tackled every kind of photography assignment from simple portraits and sport pictures to national murder cases. he moved to Africa to work for The Zambia News & Times, and within a few months he was promoted to chief photographer. After a short while he was offered the top position on the South African magazine Panorama. It was during this time that Tom was asked to set up a studio for PACT - the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal. During this four-year period he won his first World Press awards for work in music, drama and ballet photography. On his return to the UK he was interviewed by Lord Snowdon, with whom he became friends. Snowdon recommended that he try for the post of magazine photographer for The Sunday Times Colour Magazine. This was the top spot on the first and best Sunday Magazine in London. The five-year period at The Sunday Times was a time of great strides in his photography, working with some of the world's best photographers. he became the youngest photographer to be commissioned by the Royal Family. His photographs of The Beatles from 1968 have become legendary since their first public appearance in 1998. The images are considered as the most important colour photographs of the group from that period of their career. Tom's work has appeared in GQ, Vogue, Women's Wear Daily, Harper's & Queen, House & Gardens, Casa Vogue, LA Style, LA Times, The London Times, The London Sunday Times and the New York Times. Tom is a passionate fund-raiser, and much of his time is now devoted to charities and good causes. he has donated some of his finest works to be auctioned for charity, which together have raised over £385,000, including over £200,000 for Help The Hospices and Make A Wish. His additional charity work has helped raise a further £3.5million towards the Richard Caron Foundation, Save The Children and Friends In Deed among others. A selection of some of the international icons photographed by Tom include Elizabeth Taylor, Yvonne De Carlo, Richard Burton, Jill St John, Sir Hardy Aimes, Giorgio Armani, Angelica Huston, Elizabeth Montgomery, Dirk Bogarde, Dustin Hoffman, John Huston, John Schlesinger, Pierre Cardin, Calvin Klein, Michael York, George Cukor, Ralph Lauren, Luchino Visconti, John Weitz, Anthony Andrews, Ian McShane, Kate Nelligan, David Lean, Caspar Weinberger, Lindsay Anderson, HRH The Princess Margaret and, of course, the Beatles.   PEREZ, FABIAN Born in 1967, Fabian grew up outside Buenos Aires in a turbulent world of political upheaval during the post-Peron military regime. Such a childhood could not fail to impact on every area of his life including his artistic ethos, especially when taken in conjunction with his unconventional upbringing. At the age of 9 he became fascinated with the paintbrush, and using watercolors and tempera he painted portraits of his friends and family. His mother, Edua Herreria, a beautiful Brazilian women, met his father, a handsome and charismatic ladies’ man, Antonio Perez, in the late 1950’s, in Campana, a small city outside Buenos Aires. They married and had four children of whom Fabian is the youngest. Edua was the creative force in Fabian’s life and Antonio was the inspiration for his work. Fabian witnessed his father’s unorthodox and often difficult life, portraying him in his paintings as “the cool guy” outside nightclubs and bordellos. Antonio owned a number of brothels and illegal nightclubs in Campana, and was frequently chased and closed down by the police. Nevertheless the young Fabian was constantly exposed to beautiful women who could seduce a man “simply by lighting a cigarette”. Today we see these “ladies of the night” exquisitely portrayed in many of Fabian’s paintings - memories of his youth and the nightlife he observed. At the age of 16 Fabian was faced with the loss of his mother and 3 years later the loss of his father. The sadness and despair he experienced left him confused and searching for answers. In 1984 he had crossed paths with the greatest inspiration of his life - Sensei Oscar - who later became his teacher, master, close friend, and father figure. Heartbroken and alone, he therefore found strength and a degree of inner peace through the study of martial arts. Then in 1987 Fabian set off on a journey that was to last until the the present day. After six months in Rio he took up residence in Padova, near Venice, where he stayed for seven years, studying with Oscar and painting daily before moving on to Okinawa, Japan. He finally decided to experience a different side of life in the USA, and in Los Angeles he worked as a busboy and a model, and ran odd jobs for Universal Studios. With his days full, he painted throughout the night and considers this the most creative period of his life. In 2001 two art publishers and gallery owners saw and fell in love with an exhibition of Fabian’s work. They met Fabian two days later and they formed a partnership to promote, market and develop Fabian’s career as a fine artist. The collaboration was an overwhelming success; every painting Fabian created was sold immediately and the demand for his work exploded. Today his work is published by DeMontfort Fine Art in the UK. Fabian wishes not to categorise his style as he does not want to limit himself or his work. His art is simply the passionate expression of his strong romantic feelings. Inspired by what is known in martial arts as the Muga (empty mind), Fabian finds himself in this almost meditative state of mind when he is at work, and the purity of his creativity flows. He now resides in Beverly Hills, California, where he paints, plays soccer, trains and teaches martial arts to close friends. He still travels the world for inspiration.   PETLEY, GRAHAM Graham was educated at the Headley Walter School in Brentwood before attending the South East Technical College of Design. After eight years of running a gallery in Rayleigh, Essex, Graham sold the business to concentrate on his own painting. His work was initially shown by the Whitgift Gallery, Croydon and by Frost and Reed in London. Since 1990 he has exhibited more widely, and his tranquil paintings of the Devonshire, Cornish and Scottish countryside, as well as his native East Anglia, have found their way into many collections.   RAFFERTY, JON Born near the village of Spofforth in North Yorkshire. A self taught artist who believes a picture can be created by colour alone. Jon likes to work on a textured canvas which helps him obtain the depth of colour in his paintings. A very strong-minded Yorkshireman who now lives in the Yorkshire Dales. The peace and quiet of his studio overlooking the beautiful dale of Nidderdale also inspires him to create such paintings.   RAWLING, IAN Ian was born in Norfolk in 1966. Art was his best subject at school and his favourite pastime at home; he loved to indulge his creative side, not only drawing and sketching but also building and making things to impress his family and friends. Ian graduated from Sheffield Art College with a design degree, during which time he supplemented his student bank balance with money earned from a flourishing career as a pavement artist. He loved Sheffield and has now settled there with his partner and their two sons. After a successful period spent working as a designer and illustrator, Ian realized that his artwork meant more to him than simply a means to make a living. He started to work for himself and his bold, stylized images made an immediate impact on the art market. As an inveterate people-watcher, he finds inspiration in situations that we all encounter regularly, admitting for example to a somewhat quirky fondness for queues. Working mainly in pastels, he enjoys using techniques such as repetition and exaggeration to bring his unique characters to life. Ian’s influences range far and wide, and include the off-the-wall humour of the Monty Python team, cartoon genius Gary Larson, and 1950s American artist, Norman Rockwell. “I have always enjoyed bending the rules, and for me humour and imagination are the key elements of a rewarding composition.”   RIGBY, ADRIAN Born in 1962, in Chorley, Lancashire, Adrian Rigby is a well-known and prolific wildlife artist, but one who has been able to turn his hand successfully to other artistic themes as well. He studied art at the Blackpool College of Art from 1979-1982 and then taught at the same college from 1982-1985. He discovered his passion for wildlife and nature at a young age and, as a conservationist, he believes strongly that all birds and animals have a personality which can be portrayed on canvas, and that their habitat should be preserved. Adrian Rigby’s art is constantly pursuing higher standards of realism and accuracy. As a result, he spends a great deal of time out in the field collecting, observing and noting changes to nature according to the varying seasons. He paints mainly with oil and gouache, and adopts a slightly different style for each of his stunning paintings, in which mood, atmosphere and light play an important part. Adrian Rigby was awarded three prizes at the annual exhibition of The Wildlife Art Society in 1996. He won “Best in Show” for his painting titled, Rushing Waters, and also he won awards for “Best New Member” and “Best Overall Presentation in Show”. Adrian Rigby has held many exhibitions at leading galleries around the country.   RODRIQUES, JOSE Jose was born in Villena in the Alicante region of Spain in 1953. After graduating from the Fine Art School in the city of Alicante he moved to Valencia and completed his studies at the San Carlos Fine Art School. Jose’s work owes much to the influence of other artists whose work he has studied over the years. This can be seen in his choice of subject matter – classic semi nude figures; in addition his use of realistic tonalities and his skillful manipulation of light and shadow are reminiscent of his Spanish realist predecessors such as Ingres. Jose’s exquisite pastel miniatures are displayed in a number of private collections all over the world.   RUIZ He was born in Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz, Spain) in 1970. He moved to Seville when he was a child to start his artistic career there. Vocational artist, J Ruiz felt the necessity to paint since he was a child. After studying with the greatest artists, the time and the experience have made him an excellent artist. He speci