Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner, That I love London so, Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner, That I think of her wherever I go… I may have been priced out of living in London, but the city has a special place in my heart as that is where my family is originally from. The 1932 song by Flanagan & Allen has been sung at many a family knees up over the years! I am also guilty of warbling ‘Any Old Iron’ and ‘My Old Man’s a Dustman’ at family parties - oh, dear!

My Nan was born in Royal Road, Custom House and my Granddad was born in Balham (on my Mum’s side of the family). My other Nan was born near the Royal Mint (Mint Street) and my Granddad was from Cork, Ireland. They all eventually moved to Dagenham and that is where my parents were born and raised. I was born in Dagenham and our family later moved to Essex.

I am an artist who loves to paint pictures of older buildings in London and I also enjoy photographing them. I decided to start a blog as I would like to talk about the places that I paint and find out about the history of each building… who lived in them, what they have been used for in the past, what they are used for now... in fact anything that would give me more of a personal connection to them. I also want to learn more about the places my family lived in before I was born with the aim of eventually painting some of these areas.

I work in the City area of London and I find the contrast between different types of architecture fascinating. I prefer the older buildings and am passionate about preserving their character and history for future generations.

A lot of people see London as a grey city, but I see it as a vibrant place and I tend to paint my pictures brighter than they are in real life. Most of my paintings are of the Spitalfields area of London and along the Commercial Road but there are lots of other places I wish to paint and I’d love it if you would join me on my artistic journey.