The COVID -19 lock-down in 2020 meant he was unable to work, so to fill his time he painted, developing his skills and style, often painting five or six pictures a month.

Subsequently he had his first solo exhibition at Cedar Farm in 2022 and since then has had several further solo exhibitions at Cedar Farm and in Chorley as well as having work displayed in the Clitheroe Contemporary Art Exhibition, Blackburn Art Gallery and a restaurant in Chorley and displaying at the Art in the Pen art Fair in Skipton.

 

Mike says there are two main inspirations which drive his work. One is to paint what is around him in the beautiful Lancashire countryside where he lives and the other is about imagination and narrative in the tradition of magical realism, but again, often inspired by the local countryside.

His work is predominantly landscape painting with figures generally included only where they serve the narrative intention of the work.

He says he has been influenced by the work of Van Gogh (who isn’t?) Gustav Klimt, Stanley Spencer and David Hockney, though he strives to paint in his own authentic style, rather than imitate the greats. When asked about his art Mike comments as follows: “I had been waiting all my life to find a way to express myself creatively. Painting has finally given me that voice and I love it.”

PREVIEW IS FRIDAY 22ND NOVEMBER FROM 6.30 – 9 PM. Then this exhibition continues over the weekend SAT 23RD & SUN 24TH from 12 – 4 pm.