I was invited to join the Jane Powell Art Studio based at the Bank Gallery, High Street, Kenilworth in 2001
I became the Resident Artist there later in 2001 and into 2002.
Jane Powell liked my art and became my agent by promoting it to art lovers who came into the gallery. In the meantime I had been creating many original canal paintings which later culminated in a solo art exhibition at the gallery in 2001.
Leading up to the exhibition I had discovered many scenic locations walking along the canal towpaths around the Midlands, which in turn inspired me to realise the canal paintings.
I often substituted holiday narrowboats for cargo narrowboats, using period photographs as a guide, to give my paintings a more period look in the setting for the final composition.
While I was with the Jane Powell Art Studio, I had two other solo exhibitions entitled Nostalgic Themes and Doctor Who which were successful ventures.
My artist’ name was becoming renowned in the waterways world and my canal art was appearing on greeting cards with Inland Waterways and open edition art prints with the
Newcomers' Gallery, based in East Grinstead.
I met the Newcomers' Gallery, who were fine art publishers, at the annual International Spring Fair held at the NEC Birmingham during February 2002.
They later published more of my canal scenes during 2004.
When walking along canal towpaths I discovered many canal shops, who were keen to stock my canal art images, after showing them my portfolio.
Later I was invited to exhibit at the Stop House in Braunston Marina and at the Inland Waterways Exhibition in the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham during 2002
I was also invited to exhibit in the Cotswolds at the prestigious Orion Gallery in Broadway during 2002.
I thoroughly enjoyed walking along towpaths and to experience the world of the narrowboat and meet some of its owners, along with an abundance of wildlife on the canals.
I loved the slow pace of life on the waterways.
Great escapism!
