Internal Organs, Real and Imaginary |
do you accepted commissions?
Almost never. I just can't get excited about working on other people's ideas. On the few occasions I have taken commissions it has been because the brief has been very, very vague - effectively meaning I could do pretty much whatever I wanted.
would you illustrate my book?
Regretfully no, for the same reason that I don't take commissions. But thank you for your interest.
I like one of your paintings, but it has sold. Would you do me a copy?
Sorry, but I don't do copies. For one thing it wouldn't be fair on the person who bought that painting on the understanding that it was a unique and individual piece of art.
why don't you sign your paintings?
I do. The signature is on the back of the picture panel. But you can't see it without removing it from the frame and separating it from the mount. Signing pictures on the front is a comparatively modern, and in my view largely pointless, practice.
are any of the artworks on this site are for sale?
if so, which ones?
To see whether an artwork is potentially for sale, click on the gallery thumbnail and load the larger image.
An artwork that is marked 'private collection' directly underneath the image size (e.g. "20 cm x 21 cm/private collection") has already been sold. A picture marked 'reserved' has been put aside for a forthcoming show or is one of my personal favourites that I'm not currently willing to sell. A picture not marked with either of these things then it is quite possibly for sale, and is either at my studio or showing at a gallery.
Paintings do sometimes get knocked off my favourites list by newer work, and listings for shows can change, so a painting marked 'reserved' may eventually come up for sale.
can the prices of your work be found on this site?
No. And that's because this site isn't intended to be about selling.
Lots of visitors just come to look at my work, and I like that. I don't want anyone to feel they ought to be piling anything into their virtual shopping cart.
could you give a general indication of your prices?
Unframed limited editions currently range from £55 to £150. Limited editions framed under glass range from £80 to £180.
Original paintings, float-mounted and framed under glass, start at around £300. The price varies according to size and complexity. Most fall in the range £500 to £1,500.
Grounded |
can I buy a painting directly from you?
Yes, in theory, providing it's not with a gallery. If you're interested you can email me for more information.
But please note that I'm increasingly hesitant to send artworks by post or courier unless this is absolutely unavoidable. Far better if you can come and take a no-obligation look at it yourself, and then carry it away with you if you like it.
There are two reasons for this.
Firstly, unless you already have direct experience of my work (i.e. you already own one of my paintings, or you have seen my work in a real-world gallery) it is a huge risk buying a piece of artwork on the basis of a 72 dpi image on a computer monitor. I certainly wouldn't. Remember, you're buying it to look at. So shouldn't you be looking at it first?
Secondly, I love my work. It's very personal, and I find it exceedingly hard to part with. If I can put a face to a buyer's name, and know that it's going to a good home, that will make it easier for me.
but I live outside the UK!
Well I suppose that if you live on the other side of the world it would be unreasonable of me to expect you to come knocking on my door.
what is a mixed media painting?
One that doesn't quite fit into any of the traditional genres of painting such as oil, watercolour, pastel or gouache. Instead it combines a variety of materials, often in new and unusual ways. As I explain on the interview page, I paint using unique techniques that I have devised myself.
what is an oil transfer drawing?
Oil transfer drawing is a technique that enables me to draw an image onto watercolour paper using what is in effect a kind of sophisticated, handmade, one-off carbon paper. I then hand-tint the resulting black-and-white drawing using watercolours and acrylics.
Each individual oil transfer drawing is created by hand. The inherent unpredictability of the technique means that each version of the image is noticeably different.
what is an etching?
Etching is a process in which lines and tones are engraved onto the surface of a metal plate using repeated applications of acids and varnishes. Once the plate has been finished it is carefully inked and printed on a hand-operated press. By varying the way the ink is applied to the plate I give each print in the edition a subtly different character.
what is a limited edition?
The techniques of etching or oil transfer drawing make it possible to produce several versions of the same image, although no two will be identical. In the case of an artwork described as 'limited edition of 15', a maximum of 15 copies of the image will be made - plus one or two 'artist's proofs' made as test pieces and usually retained by myself.
do you have any advice about hanging and caring for your work?
The inks, pigments and painting mediums I use are all extremely light-fast. Despite the very high inherent stability of the work, it is best to avoid exposing it to long periods of direct sunlight (in a conservatory, for example) or hanging it directly over a heat source. Such factors may not damage the work itself, but they could warp or damage the frame. It would also be wise to avoid exposing the work to high levels of moisture or atmospheric pollutants.
My paintings, with their deep, lustrous colours, look especially good when carefully lit. Small directional halogen lights are ideal, but such bulbs emit plenty of heat, so don't position them too close.
If it is ever necessary to remount the work, please take advice from myself or a professional framer or conservator. Do not allow the work to be remounted by any process which is not reversible, or with materials which are not acid-free. You should choose materials which are 'museum' or 'conservation' grade.
If you own one of my artworks and have any problems or queries, however small, about hanging or caring for it, please contact me.
Crab and Blocks |