My early years were spent at Treyarnon Bay in North Cornwall, UK. This exposure to the Atlantic coast coupled with a family interest in art (my grandfather John Simmons 1871-1943 was an accomplished painter) led to an inevitable fascination with drawing and painting.

I studied Art and Art History at 'A' level and then went on to read Fine Art at The University of Reading, Berkshire 1992-1996.

At Reading I was exposed to every extreme of the contemporary art spectrum by tutors from all disciplines of Fine Art, notably Richard Wilson, Terry Pope, Bill Culbert, Anya Gallacio, Sam Taylor-Wood, Ceal Floyer, Stephen Buckley, Roger Cook and Peter Kalkhoff. Having arrived at Reading as a 'Painter' my creative practice developed to embrace all media with sculpture and installation quickly becoming equally rewarding ways to express my ideas. I became fascinated by the work of Donald Judd and David Mach among many, and a minimalist aesthetic gripped my work, tempered by my love of irony. For a period I split my studio time between making objects and painting imagined objects.

No matter how much I flirted with the other disciplines of Fine Art, painting, and particularly oil painting, always reeled me back in. Painting is without a doubt my preferred means of expression, but with the added strength and understanding one can only acquire by trying out the competition.

After University I returned to Cornwall with the ambition to establish myself as a painter. I draw an abundance of inspiration from my surroundings fueled by the ever strengthening community of artists here. The Cornish land and seascapes are central to my life and at the heart of the work that I produce.

Towards the end of 2005 I developed a new painting technique using coloured acrylic resins. These "pourings" are now an important part of my overall body of work. I will continue to work in resin in conjunction with my practice in Oil.