Perfect figures

Alla Prima is Italian for “at the first” and in painting terms means completing a painting at once, in a single sitting or session. The overall aim is to capture an immediate impression of the subject

What’s a good starting point for painting from life – an entry-level challenge? Painting a plaster cast is a great way to start. They are useful to work with because they don’t move and there are no c

Most artists agree that portraiture is the most difficult genre to conquer when drawing or painting. Achieving a large percentage of a likeness can be dragged down by minor inaccuracies. The first and

Here I’m capturing another favourite subject in mixed media: the human head. I was lucky enough to have Aonghas MacNeacail, the wonderful poet and songwriter from the Isle of Skye, as my sitter. I lov

Being able to draw provides the confidence and perception to create a convincing representation of a subject. The skill creeps up on you through practise and ingrains as a habit making the act so much

I’VE RELIED ON DRAWING FOR MOST OF MY CAREER, especially early on as an illustrator. It’s only been within the last decade or so that it hasn’t been the main driving force in my work. When you’ve disc