Earlier this summer I reached a milestone I'd been working towards for some time: I passed my pilot's licence, flying the Falke motor glider with my instructor, Ian. And almost immediately, another chapter began. My uncle very kindly bought me a share in a beautiful 1946 Aeronca Champion, G-BRER, based at Middlezoy Aerodrome. Thanks to her registration, she's affectionately known as “The Rabbit.” There's a lovely connection between my flying and my aviation art. Much of my fl

Some paintings start with an aircraft I want to capture. Others have a much more personal connection behind them. “Valley Strike” was inspired in part by my friendship with retired RAF Squadron Leader David Linney, someone I fly with at Middlezoy Aerodrome and for whom I have a great deal of respect. David flew and commanded Harrier GR3 reconnaissance operations in West Germany during the Cold War, and hearing about that world of low-level tactical flying gave me the inspirat

Some paintings are primarily about an aircraft. Others are really about the people behind them. This painting was very much the latter. I was commissioned to bring together three generations of the Childs family, surrounded by aircraft that have formed part of their family's long involvement with aviation at Middlezoy Aerodrome in Somerset. At the centre is the wonderfully distinctive yellow Pietenpol Air Camper G-BMDE. The painting became as much a family portrait and a reco

Getting some unwanted help with this one. An unmistakably British Cold War aircraft The Buccaneer has never had the outright speed or glamour normally associated with aircraft such as the Lightning, Phantom or later Tornado, but that's part of what makes it so interesting to paint. Its swollen fuselage, small canopy, area-ruled shape and heavily loaded wings give it an appearance unlike almost anything else. It was also remarkably long-lived. Conceived during the 1950s, the p

This was a commission gifted to a retired German Navy squadron commander featuring one of his Westland Sea King Mk.41 of the German Navy (Deutsche Marine), and this one was a real treat to bring to life, as it wears its "Flyout Kiel" commemorative livery. I decided to depict the helicopter in action over a dark, storm-swept sea at night, with its searchlights cutting through the tempestuous sky, highlighting the dramatic tension of a naval operation. The Sea King wears its sp

Acrylic on board Short Sunderland MR5 in RAF Wig Bay. Now preserved in the RAF Museum at Hendon. Every painting has a story behind it, but this commission carries a particularly meaningful one. I was recently asked to create a piece for the pilot of the Short Sunderland MR5—the very aircraft now proudly preserved at the RAF Museum in Hendon, London. To paint something for someone who not only flew the aircraft, but whose service is now physically represented in a national mus

Every so often a commission arrives that pushes me both artistically and emotionally—and this one certainly did. I was asked to capture a Royal Navy Westland Wessex flying over Bessbrook Mill, County Armagh , during one of the most intense and historically significant periods of recent British military history: The Troubles . For anyone familiar with the era, Bessbrook Mill is more than just a location. For nearly 40 years, it was the busiest heliport in Europe, a constant hu

Filling a WWI Gap: Airco DH.4 vs Fokker Dr.I Triplane acrylic on canvas board I’ve always felt my portfolio needed a stronger nod to the early days of air combat—a time when fabric-covered wings, wire bracing, and raw bravery defined the skies. So, I set out to fill that World War I gap with a dynamic new painting: the Airco DH.4 duelling with the legendary Fokker Dr.I Triplane . The inspiration struck while watching this impressive two-seater in action during a session of Fl

Every so often, a commission comes along that is equal parts challenge and privilege—something that pushes my creativity while celebrating a rich piece of aviation history. This project did exactly that: painting four legendary British military helicopters onto a genuine Sea King tail rotor blade. The canvas itself already carried decades of stories. Unmistakably part of a machine built for duty, the tail rotor blade set the tone for the entire piece. Instead of working on a

I wanted to take a quick moment to update you all on what's been happening behind the scenes. The past few months have been a bit of a challenge getting stuff done. Between some website tech difficulties and a busy schedule, I haven’t been able to share as much new content on finished works as I would’ve liked, but the good news is—I'm back on track. Lots of new aviation paintings completed, and I’m excited to finally have the time and tools to showcase them properly. Thank y

It was a pleasure to be involved in the preparation of Somerset Aerofest 2023 from the glamour of designing the posters and pamphlets,...

A key figure held in regard by his aviator colleagues at Middlezoy Aerodrome is retired Squadron Leadrer Dave Linney AFC. RAF. Having...

Whilst catching-up with my friends from the Somerset Aeroplane Company, aero engineer Paul Childs showed me a video from back in 2007...

When I experiment with painting styles, new varnishes or canvas brands I prefer to not do that on a paying commission for obvious...

The best part of this year's fly-in events, wasn't only taking in the visiting aircraft, it was also getting to know a lot of interesting...

November in the UK is always a bleak affair with lots of rain, and this year was no exception and so the pilots and crew at Middlezoy...

I met some incredibly interesting ex-pilots when I was exhibiting the aviation paintings at Middlezoy Aerofest in the summer - the Sea...

Having spent the majority of my life a stones throw from the coast in the counties of South West of England, the bright yellow RAF search and rescue Sea Kings were a part of the scenery. I was sorry to see them retired, and so I was pleased to receive this commission to paint one. By happy serendipity, I also happen to live not far from Somerset's Historic Helicopters who successfully restored to flight such an aircraft - XZ597 Westland Sea King HAR3. this is joined by their

September arrived and here in the UK summer clocked out promptly at the end of its shift. And when the sunshine departed, it seems our...

Many, many years back when I studied for my BA degree, the title of my thesis was Concorde - a Design Icon. Around that time Concorde was...