Born in Doncaster, April 1952, I remember from a very early age being interested in capturing my surroundings through drawing on any blank paper I could find - the dog asleep on the rug, the living room full of furniture, my mother or brother relaxing watching the TV in the evening, my left hand holding objects, a pair of shoes, the dining table and chairs… anything that would stay still long enough for me to capture a likeness.

I was far from being a scholar at school: the teachers gave me good marks for any illustration work, average on almost everything else, and, in the case of maths, much less than average! In fact, I remember one maths teacher telling me not to waste his time, and go to the art room where he knew I enthused and thrived. I also enjoyed subjects like metalwork, woodwork and technical drawing – all things visual and practical suited my learning style. My skill at drawing was acknowledged by one and all, especially my mother! School friends would offer to do my theory work if I agreed to illustrate their exercise books and it seemed like a good idea at the time!

I left home at the age of 16, living and working as a waiter in a country hotel for 9 months, some 10 miles from Doncaster. However, I had always dreamed of travelling. So, never having been abroad, I joined the Merchant Navy and worked my way around the world for 2 years. Although this was a wonderful experience in many ways, especially in learning the art of survival, I realised that if I was to continue to survive I was going to have to get a career.

The words from a great influence in my life echoed in my ear: my art teacher, Selwyn Lloyd, had said, ‘Go to art college, Graham’ – and so I did! In 1970 I enrolled at Doncaster College of Art, and although I didn’t have the qualifications to enter the pre-diploma Fine Art course, my portfolio got me into Graphic Design, where I specialised in illustration. I graduated two years later with Distinction and gained employment as a junior designer/illustrator at the South Yorkshire Times and White Rose Press in Mexborough, followed by a year with an agency in Manchester.

I returned to Doncaster in 1976 and co-founded a graphics partnership. I married in 1978 and began a family. The demands of running a business and the advent of computers led to me losing touch with art and illustration. Some 17 years and 3 children later, I left the partnership to form my own business, and though this was successful for several years, something was missing: I was not fulfilled. So now a single parent, at the age of 56, I have decided to let go of the graphics industry and get back to the ‘real’ me and art.