I started painting when we moved to Suffolk in 1997. I had little work at the time and I was lucky enough to "land" in a weekly daytime class tutored by Julie Hamburger. She has remained a great support, encourager and guide. A few years ago, looking ahead to the prospect of becoming 60, I decided to begin cutting down on my "day job" and commit more time to painting. I have now completed this transition. I'm very pleased to now be able to spend as much time as I wish, painting. I call my studio (shed!) "Old Croc", partly because I also make wire forms, and the first one I ever did was a lovely big crocodile. He is still with me, now working hard as a support to the Clematis climbing up the shed wall. Since you could say I'm also becoming an old croc, I thought the name appropriate and funny. You might spot my simplistic sense of humour in the titles of my sheep paintings. These seem to be my main focus of interest right now, a new idea taking form in my mind as I write. I can't really explain why sheep interest me so much. On the artist biog page of my website, I say a little about the vastness and comforting weight I find in animal forms. Our local landscape is another main focus for me, responding very much to the changing shapes and colours brought about by different light and weather. I'm pushing ahead within my capabilities, trying to get exhibitions where I can. I love hearing what people make of what I've painted: what it means to them, how they feel. Having started late, I feel I can waste no time. Painting for me is about communicating something, so I want to get the work out there. If I sell thats great. Eeks out a basic pension!