Resident artist at Country Gallery
Traditional painter in oils of all subjects
He was 28 years old when he returned to the art world. After spotting an advert in the local paper, he ended up working at the world-renowned Wedgwood group. He trained in the prestige department of Coalport China to paint on fine bone china.
Derek has a small working gallery in his home village of Woore, in the Shropshire countryside. He has had this gallery for the past 9 years. He also has a home studio in his village of Woore. The studio is situated on the borders of the three Counties of Cheshire, Shropshire, and Staffordshire.
He explained: “I wasted my time at school. I was not really interested in it. Art College required O-Levels, which I didn’t have at the time. So, I never got in.
“I remember working for a week solid before my interview at Coalport. I was trying to put together a portfolio of work, which I didn’t have at the time!
“My hard work paid off. They must’ve seen something in me. I was offered the job ahead of people who had, in fact, been to Art College and gained degrees. It was great.”
Derek started as a freehand artist. He painted on fine bone china for the gift ware market. Eventually, he worked on historic editions and prototypes.
He was made redundant in 1979. He was determined not to be deterred. He started creating freelance artwork to sell. Within a few years, he decided to switch to oil painting. Completely self-taught in oil painting, Derek now spends his time creating visually stunning pieces in oil on canvas.
His obsession and attention to detail are clear in the works he produces today. They cover an eclectic mix of topic matter. It is quite a rarity for an artist to jump from one theme to another. His aim is to work without compromise. He seeks to achieve space and depth no matter the genre. This dedication gives his work the substance he strives for.
He continued: “I achieve the end result I’m looking for by working on several paintings at the same time. Whilst I’m waiting for paint to dry, I’ll switch to another canvas. My paintings take a long time to do, so I can return to each painting with fresh eyes. My attention span is low. I get bored painting the same things. Doing different things keeps it interesting. Besides, I’d hate to be labeled as the artist who paints stick figures!
In the past, he has exhibited in various galleries in the UK and the Netherlands. He was accepted by the Society of Marine Artists in the Mall Galleries. He also held solo exhibitions at Tatton Park, Weston Hall the N.E.C., and even the South African Embassy. He has plenty of exciting projects on the horizon.
Derek specializes in commissioned work. He also offers a full restoration service of Period and old oil and water-colour paintings. This applies no matter the damage.
Please telephone 01630 647345 or 07746 001904 to make an appointment