I trained for a year at the Edinburgh College of Art and a further year and half in Florence, at the Charles Cecil studio. It was here that I developed an appreciation for the work of the old masters and in particular Leonardo da Vinci. His understanding of his subject, desegno and technique, is something that inspires me in my own work. My portraits are drawn, painted and sculpted from life.

I learnt the true importance of this at Charles Cecil's studio, where observing and understanding the human figure from life is paramount. This is something that is extremely important to me. I believe to capture a character, whether it be human or equine, it is necessary to study them from life. George Stubbs is also a huge inspiration to me. His passion for understanding his subjects was incredible.

The underlying theme of my work is understanding the form and portraying it in different mediums. I work in pencil, charcoal, chalk, oil, plaster, bronze, silver and soon, I hope, marble. My work is grounded in the ethos of the old masters but I have my own interpretation of my subjects.