Last summer I experimented by taking my work to various events in order to escape the tyranny of Art Galleries.  I have had some experience at trying to see if my art work sold in craft fairs and alternative events and found it very unproductive.  I had almost given up with the idea of taking my art to different audiences and was at a loss, and somewhat blindsided by past failures.  However last year the Tank Museum show signalled my new path.  So now I exclusively attend History events and the penny has finally dropped.  This year I returned to the Tank Museum with tailor made tank art.  My Iraq, Afghan and military training paintings are mostly withdrawn, and I focus on WW2.  It seems so obvious now, but I had spent some 8 years painting historic landscapes of North Essex!

There seems to be a craze for WW2.  My new patrons say nothing else has the same attraction.  Over my military career I painted Bosnia, Iraq and Afghan but these have far less draw than I thought.  So this year I now have a some very iconic views taken from combat footage at the time, The Panther’s last stand at Cologne Cathedral being the most classic of the new works.  I only use a restrained amount of compositional enhancement, colour and a little artistic licence.

Other than the Tank Museum the most popular shows are Tewkesbury and the ‘We have Ways festival’  But I think the Military Odyssey in Kent may prove very good.  I paint portraits and parade paintings along side the military landscapes, and together I have a really exciting new future to look forward to so long as I don’t get tired of packing and unpacking the car!