Across the drainage ditch. Bull Finch, birch, gorse and threat of rain. Messingham Reserve

I really like your paintings Steve, they are so interesting. The textures and colours are excellent.

Smashing, painted with feeling.

Lots of textures and colours and so much to look at, like Carole says, your paintings are so interesting, well done.

I like your work, very interesting and good use of textures......have you seen the work of Kurt Jackson per chance?

Kurt Jackson had an exhibition here on the Isle of Wight late last year; extraordinary work, but I think the similarity between his paintings and Steve's is not so great as all that - which is no disrespect to either of them; the styles are sufficiently distinctive for there to have been either some influence, or none, if that makes sense. This is a very distinctive work, with highly individualistic colour, composition and texture; this is the sort of painting which gives me ideas for my own work - there is a interesting approach to colour and contrast; painting that makes you think about technique and approach, and as such is especially absorbing ; gives the lie to the oft-repeated canard that there is nothing new to be said about the world using representational techniques. I think there are endless things to be said about the natural world - if you can say them - if you're prepared to subject it to a damn' good look.

This is very attractive. It definitely feels immediate, the intangible quality of outdoor work. Where's the bullfinch though?

Thanks for your thoughts. Very influenced by Kurt Jackson's approach, which I'd sum up as painting the landscape from within it (in this case sat beside a gorse bush on the edge of a drainage ditch). I tend to use palette knives brushes sticks anything to hand to make marks. Sorry Colleen I heard the bull finches and glimpsed them in immature birch. Lovely birds that are mentioned in the title as they were part of the spirit of the place.

you really have got this type of painting down to a fine art ,you certainly excel at it!!

What exciting work, full of energy and wonderful palettes. A real pleasure to be allowed to look through your portfolio. Thank you