Venus symbol

New work today...

Venus symbol, 2014, paint and Japanese paper on canvas

Painting fever

Voting fever, mixed media on canvas

Jimmy Mac's hi-fi

It was 1955 and I was still a twinkle in my parents eyes, my Father who was a Gardener by profession had a passion for hi-fi sound systems. He was not a wood worker, had no training in this, also an added disadvantage of loosing all the fingers and thumb on his left hand through picking up a hand grenade just after the war years aged 14.

My Father has always worked incredibly hard, holding down a full time job as Head Groundsman and  gardening for people in the evening to earn some extra money. So in his spare time he indulged in his hobby of music. He purchased a few books on cabinet making, veneering and french polishing and he made his first hi-fi cabinet and speakers. There was a lot of friends and family that came over to see and listen to Jimmy Mac's new hi-fi system and a local photographer who lived down the street came and took this photograph (below).

My Fathers home made cabinet and speakers with one of the first Philips stereo recorders (centre), inside the cabinet was a radio, turntable and powerful amplifier.

My Father in 1948 ( back row second from left) at Finchale Abbey training college for disabled adults.

2011 self taught on the cornet.

Needless to say I am very proud of my Father.

Finding the source

Finding the source, oil on canvas

This ones taken a long time

Its taken me nearly 2 years to complete this painting.....its very heavily with the vast amounts of paint!

Second chance

Second chance, oil on canvas

Hanging dreams on coat hangers

Hanging dreams on coat hangers