A man from a humble background, who loved to paint and draw from a very early age. He was born in to a small fishing village on the north east coast, before moving a couple of miles inland.
We moved as the family expanded and more of my brothers arrived. We fitted right in with the other local kids we ran around the streets and didn’t have a care in the world.
We living in a council estate, had little money, but everyone looked out for each other running in and out of each others houses. We had a real sence of belonging.
This was the seventy’s 3 day weeks, power cuts, low wages but we knew nothing about this. Sheltered by our parents and family fed Sugar or jam sandwiches, washed down by dandylion and burdock pop from the travelling shop. We Played in the streets, we had no Gameboys, playing with sticks and stones and a football was always to hand for a kick in the street or at the playing fields. A jacket or jumper for a post and the game was born.
Like Norman Cornish and L S Lowry I take pride in what we had and how we were. From the collery worker leaving to go to work, to everyday occurances, creating simple images. I have tried to reproduce those times in the way they were, and seen through my eyes, a little lad growing up.
These times although hard could be rewarding we had baked pies and cakes, and Sunday best clothes