I have drawn all my life, but since I picked up a paintbrush in 1987, I have never looked back, regularly taking part in group exhibitions as well as my own solo shows. By the end of 1986 I had completed a Diploma in Visual Communication Design at Christchurch Institute of Technology, which put me in very good stead as a future painter as I learnt many invaluable technical skills during my time there.
I then went on to study full time at the New Zealand Film and Television Training School, also in Christchurch. I gained a certificate at the end of the year and then moved to Wellington to seek film work and to continue on my painting career. I was receiving continual interest in my painting which gave me the impetus to keep producing new work.
I then moved to Auckland to work on an American movie in the Art Department. I spent a number of years working as a Set Painter and Props and Model Maker, working on both local and international jobs.
2004 : I attended Manukau Institute of Technology and gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Seconday School Teaching. It was during this time I began to be invited to do commission art works by various people. Over a year and a half later I am still producing commission pieces back to back. Although I still have my own exhibitions, I thoroughly enjoy this new direction that my painting has taken. Please have a look at the Contact page to find out how to order a commission painting.
2005 : I completed a further two courses at Manukau Institute of Technology through the Department for Further Education gaining a Post Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching. These courses were Programme and Course Design and Design and Assessment Principles and Design. At the same time I tutored three adult night classes: one drawing class, one general painting class and one portrait painting class.
2006 : I have spent this year teaching painting and drawing night classes to adults and holiday programmes (drawing) to teenagers. I have also been relieving teaching at Westlake Boys High School which I thoroughly enjoy.
I completed a paper on Colin McCahon's Religious Period through the Christchurch Instutute of Technolgy which earned me 2 credits towards upgrading to a degree. I have also had four exhibitions, here in Auckland and in Wellington and completed a number of commissioned works.
2007 : After a great year doing relief teaching at Westlake Boys High School and running several adult painting and drawing nightclasses each term, I'm very pleased to say that I will be taking up a position in 2008 as a full time art teacher (at another school).
2008 : This year I will be completing the final two theory and practical art papers to complete my Degree in Visual Communication through the Christchurch Institue of Technology.