News, February 2026
Happy New Year, and welcome back to my website. No new exhibitions to report this early in the year, though the John Moores exhibition in Liverpool is still going strong, continuing until 1st March. If you haven’t yet been, it’s worth a visit – a free exhibition of a wide range of the best contemporary painting currently being produced in the UK.
I have already entered two new exhibitions for the coming summer – details to follow closer to show time.
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John Moores Painting Prize Exhibition 2025-26.
I’ve been very fortunate again this year to have been selected for the John Moores Painting Prize Exhibition which is on at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, from 6th September until 1st March 2026. My painting, “High Street”, is a construction made-up of a series of actual buildings from the town of Heckmondwike, which is very close to where I live. For the exhibition I had to write a short statement about the work as part of the entry process:-
The High Street in my painting doesn’t exist as depicted, but each of the buildings in it does, all within a small Yorkshire town close to my home. Their ages range from around 50 – 120 years, and they have all seen better, brighter days.
We live in a land where property is king. Bricks and mortar are a much coveted, valuable investment, but for these neglected buildings normal rules don’t seem to apply. I feel a certain affinity with them. As we grow older, we humans seem to become less visible. We seem to count for less. Our voice can be considered insignificant.
Despite their neglect, the buildings still have strength and a beauty which comes through their age. The older they get, the more beautiful their patina, which speaks of their history. They still have value and potential which ought to be realised. They’re rather like us
Here are some images of the painting, including some from the exhibition opening on 4th September.
High Street
Detail 1
Detail 2
Detail 3
I have made some A6 postcards for the show which I am giving away. So, if you would like some, you can collect them from me at the studio or from the Reception desk at the entrance to Redbrick Mill if I’m not there. For directions to Redbrick Mill and opening times please visit https://www.redbrickmill.co.uk .
To find out more about the John Moores Painting Prize Exhibition, please visit https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
New Work
Here are some of the unreleased new paintings I did during 2025.
St Mary's Church, Birkin.
Mill yard safari.
One man and his dog waiting for the last bus out of Mill Town.
Rubbish
Terrace
The sorrowful beauty of dereliction versus the hope of restoration.
The free Library.-Keep out!.
On reflection
Christmas House
Christmas House is only a 10 minute walk from home and is decorated by the guy who lives there. Many people go to see the house, and there are usually collection buckets available, which are used to collect funds to support local homeless charities. Next Christmas I am hoping to have printed copies made which we can sell so that we can help support these good causes.
Family drawing.
Family portrait.
Preparatory drawing and completed painting for a family commission, my first portrait for a good while.
If you need any further information regarding any of the work here on the website, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Contact details are on the homepage.
I hope we all have a good year in 2026, and that as the year progresses we find our world in a calmer, kinder, more tolerant, more peaceful state than is currently the case. Thanks for your support.