Introduction | My Art Journey
My First Oil Painting, Eilean Donan Castle 2010
More recent oil pointing, Perth Smeaton Bridge 2026
How I became a full-time original oil painter specialising in realism.
My art journey started in 2010. Initially, there was no driving reason for it. To be honest, it started by a dare from an ex-partner while we were out drinking. This made me reflect on how much I loved drawing and painting when I was younger and through my school years. Taking the bull by the horn the next morning, I went to the local art store in Perth, my hometown. Initially, I just bought a set of watercolours, some brushes, and watercolour paper. After completing a few drawings with watercolours, I was hooked immediately. Remembering back to my school days, we were never given the opportunity to use oil paints, so I decided to take the challenge on and buy some oil paints and try a few canvases.
When I first began painting seriously, I committed to painting every weekend, either Saturday or Sunday morning, depending on my work schedule due to travel commitments. I was also a member of a golf club. If I could not actually paint, I would spend time reading art books, art history books, and watching YouTube videos. It continued like this from 2010 to 2019. However, in that time, I was able to complete over 110 paintings on canvas and was happy to see every painting progressing and improving.
From 2020, due to working from home and a more stable working environment with less travel, I was able to commit to painting every weekend. This was an addition to any research I was doing. These last 5 or 6 years are where I believe the dramatic improvements have taken place.
I was in a fortunate position in mid 2025 to take early retirement and I decided instead of looking for a new role immediately I would commit a few years of my life to my painting and standing up a potential painting business. In that time, I have stood up my website created the shop and a gallery archive, improved my social media and committed to painting or paint research five days a week. My full-time career as a painter is a challenge but I am optimistic and hopeful that I will be able to retire happily using this as my main stream of additional income.
As part of my journey early on from the mid 2010 I decided not to scamp on quality in both art materials, reference material and the time I give to each piece. I’ve committed to buy the best oil paint I believe I can, using Michael Hardings handcrafted oil paints and I also use high-quality brushes from Rosemary and Co. For the last six years all my canvases are linen rather than cotton and I feel this gives a better end result and will be more archival.
And more recent times I have changed my approach to in addition to working on canvases I also spend time work on canvas boards and panels at smaller sizes to practice a wider range of subject matter to improve both my drawing skills and colour theory. I was also able to take some art classes for the first time in my local area, Portsmouth, shout out to Katie Munro and Ella Kilgour from www.paintanddrawatelier.com at the Hot Wall, Old Portsmouth.
I would like to finish by saying although I am attempting to make this my full-time job I still have so much fun every time I have the opportunity to enter my studio. It feels like a haven where the stress of the world just drifts away and time can fly by so easily.
If you came through this blog through searching on the Internet and haven’t had the opportunity to look at the rest of my site please do so you’ll find a shop for original paintings up for sale as well as a gallery of previous paintings. I am more than happy to consider most commission types and my site has a page outlining the types of paintings I do and the process. Please have a browse and if you have any questions contact me using the contact form.
