Q & A with Once Upon A Town Magazine-Epsom Autumn 2025 Edition

As a local artist, how important is community to your creative life?

It’s incredibly important to me, so much of what I do is about connection, whether it’s capturing someone’s home, a favourite neighbourhood, or a local landmark that holds meaning for people. Being part of the community means I’m constantly surrounded by stories, memories and places that inspire my work. It adds a something deeper to the purpose of what I do. I’m always grateful for the trust people place in me to represent their world through my drawings, it’s a reminder that art doesn’t just belong in galleries; it belongs in people’s everyday lives.

Your linework is so intricate. How long can a single piece take from start to finish?

Some of my pieces have taken over 200 hours to complete, like my drawings of Buckingham Palace and the Paris Opera House. That time is often spread across weeks or even months. For example, The Bronze Door at Milan Duomo took me five months to finish. Since it was a personal project rather than a commission, I had to work on it alongside other client pieces. But spending that much time on a single drawing is never daunting for me. I know what I’m capable of and I genuinely love the process. Watching a drawing slowly come to life through thousands of hand-drawn lines is incredibly rewarding and keeps me motivated right to the end.

Do you draw on location, from memory, or photographs? What’s your process?

Whenever possible, I like to visit the building in person first. That initial experience, seeing it in real life, helps me connect with the subject in a much deeper way. I’ll often do a quick, loose sketch on-site, just to get a feel for it, but my larger, more detailed works are created later. While I’m there, I take plenty of photographs from different angles to gather as much reference material as I can. I pay close attention to the light and try to capture strong shadow references, shadows are essential for creating depth and atmosphere in my drawings. Once I’m back in my studio, I review the photos and begin the final piece. It’s in the studio, with music on and no distractions, that I can really focus and immerse myself in the process.

What is it about certain buildings that stops you in your tracks and makes you want to draw them?

I’ve always had a deep appreciation for architecture and certain buildings have a way of capturing my attention instantly. It’s often a combination of things; distinctive details, a strong sense of presence and the layers of history embedded within the structure. It’s not just about aesthetics, it’s about the story a building tells. When I choose to draw a building, I’m not only drawn to its form and the architectural details but curious about its background, who designed it, when and why it was built, what purpose it has served over time. That sense of character and narrative is what makes me want to bring it to life on paper.

You’ve been featured everywhere from billboards to major newspapers - what moment has meant the most to you so far?

While it’s incredibly exciting to see my work on billboards, in major newspapers and through successful exhibitions, the moments that mean the most are far more personal. It’s when someone places their trust in me to capture their story. I have been asked to do commissions of wedding venues, house portraits, engagement locations, favourite neighbourhoods, special workplaces... Being commissioned to illustrate these special places is such a privilege. To use my skills to help preserve someone’s most precious memories is deeply rewarding and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to do that through my art.

Where can people see your work in person right now and what should they look out for?

Locally I am exhibiting right here in the Epsom Ashley Centre. I work with a pop-up gallery called Arthouse Galleries. It’s manned by the very artists exhibiting, so you can go in and meet the artists directly. The artwork and artists exhibiting are always changing so it’s well worth returning. Look out for my large Buckingham Palace drawing, over a meter wide and intricately gilded with 24ct gold leaf and pops of colour.

The large hand embellished print of Buckingham Palace is over a meter wide, comes hand embellished with 24ct gold leaf and is only an edition of 25.

View Buckingham Palace full size print

What advice would you give to someone who’s new to buying art and doesn’t know where to start?

I would recommend visiting an art fair, where you have a wide range of artwork to see, surround yourself with inspiration and from there, do not overthink it. Trust yourself to know what you like and listen to your feelings. Sometimes you can know by looking at an artwork, sometimes you need to hear the story, the inspiration or how it was produced, be inquisitive. Be open minded in exploring and do not be constricted to a type of art. There is no wrong decision making in buying art, it is very personal, trust your own judgement.