Quite simply, I have always loved lettering, handwriting, typography, manuscripts, pattern, print, whatever…

My passion for print and calligraphic quest began at the age of 7, when I was awarded First Prize at the Newark & Nottinghamshire County Show in the “Under 10 Miniature Garden in a Biscuit Tin Lid” category.

This horticultural triumph was marked by the presentation of a stiff card, approximately 6” x 4”, deckle edged in gold with a graded pink (that explains it!) border, and, lost in a completely lunatic swirl of embossed copperplate, the all important “FIRST PRIZE.”

 Captivated by this typographic masterpiece, a distinct loathing of earthworms put paid to any further flowery forays, but my fate was sealed, and I was sadly destined to spend countless hours poring over and assessing the peculiarities of print.

Anything and everything from concert tickets to shop signs, food packaging, invoices, programmes, maps, handwriting, newsprint, beer mats, pub signs, graffiti, road names, traffic signs, parish notice boards, ecclesiastical lettering, gravestones, clothing labels, logos, till receipts, posters, carved lettering on buildings, old painted lettering on buildings, new anarchic lettering on buildings – I can’t help it.

Oh, and medieval manuscripts -  exquisite and enduring gems that inspire my work in traditional and contemporary mode, employing centuries old techniques with today’s materials – the best of both worlds.

I enjoy the discipline and technical skills required to create lettering and realism fused with pattern and colour – simple as that!

My initial training was at Loughborough University School of Art & Design ( B.A. Hons Printed Textile Design ), the calligraphy is self taught.

I am a founder and current member of Harding House Gallery Co-operative (est. 1994) on Steep Hill in Lincoln, still very much involved with this hugely successful, hardworking and dare I say delightfully potty group of artists…

You can see a selection of my work on display in the Gallery, and once a week I teeter uphill to dispense bonhomie and a wide variety of unique contemporary work.

Choosing to ignore the increasing density of spectacles required for close detail, I have nevertheless produced all manner of work for cathedrals, churches, restaurants, schools, weddings, galleries, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, and many private commissions.

Go digging? Oh yes....