Artist opens home studio by appointment - Jan to March 2026!

The second time I portrayed Shahen, I was channelling Klimt and his decorative use of blue and gold. I wanted to take that idea of being him lost in music further with the thought that the music was transporting and enveloping him - and yet remained alert to not only to other band members but the audience.

Eddie Bishop is the violinist of the group, who also plays a saw as my carpenter/joiner dad once did. I was interested to experiment, seeing how a painting of Eddie, using the same reference photos I had taken, would differ in different media.  So I portrayed him first in oils (above) and then in mixed media. My conclusion is that I concentrated on the skin tone with oils, the physicality of a musician playing.  But the mark making of the drawing focused on movement.  See what you think.

My last portrait focused on Tim Dowling and his on stage relationship with Shahen and Eddie in particular.  They were all intently focusing on their instruments and it made me think of orchestra members listening to all the different parts being played around them and having their contribution absorbed into the whole. 

Los Pacaminos blend Mexican border blues, Mariachi, Norton-style Medico and Country/Blues. They are a fabulous band to watch live not least because different members of the band take the lead vocals.

Steve 'Woody' Oakham accordionist Los Pacaminos SOLD

I've portrayed Ralph McTell twice, delivering his annual concert in aid of homeless charity, Streets of London, named after his most famous song.

In the first, I was interested in two different aspects of the musician.  Ralph McTell modelled his now masterly guitar style on American country blues players of the early 20th century, so I capture him here glancing at the fretboard for a particularly demanding section. In profile I intended to capture his friendly and relaxed on stage persona.  He is at one with the music, and the audience is at one with him as barriers between both melt away.

The beauty of portraying someone twice, with time intervening, is that you look at them with fresh eyes.  I decided a new, fresh approach was needed and turned to the smooth surface of cradled, gesso panel and coloured pencil to capture, through mark-making, an artist at one with an instrument that has accompanied him on so many musical journeys.

The Half Moon Putney is host to a number of tribute acts.  Many recreate what it was like to attend gigs of great bands of the 60s, 70s and 80s.  

The Rollin Stoned are a fabulous tribute band who, I understand, have played for the Rolling Stones themselves.  They take great care to sound, look and perform like those they play tribute to. The problem for a portrait artist is that, of course, they only look like the band in a superficial way with context being everything. So if you don't want to appear bad at your craft, you need to make a careful choice of who you portray and how to continue the task of suspending belief.  I hope it works here - and with Boot Led Zeppelin.  I was very fortunate that when I caught the Ultimate Beatles, the musician who played "George" was a looky-likey.

It's always a joy when band members or fans buy one of my portraits.  A similar thrill is when I am commissioned to portray a musician performing, as I was with Dave COllison's wonderful rendition of Roy Orbison's famous Black and White Night.

Dave COllison's Roy Orbison Black and White Night COMMISSION

Old rockers

The Half Moon Putney, capacity 220, often sees members of major rock bands returning to the venue after having packed out stadiums and the like during their careers.  They like the intimacy of the venue and being able to interact directly with the audience.  This was the case with John Coghlan's Quo.

The great thing about drummer revival bands is that they are front and centre stage, rather than placed in the background.  This means I can get a good shot at photographing them to inspire my art.

Ricky Cool and the In Crowd is a British band known for its lively mix of classic and original RnB, Ska, Bluebeat and Soul inspired by the 1960s Mod scene and the legendary London Flamingo Club.

Looking back it seems astonishing that I completed so many pictures in my first year as Resident Artist.  I hope you'll continue following my journey on social media!