When I finished my art degree in 1974 I had intended spending two weeks of every month painting and two weeks singing - music is the other big love of my life - but things don’t always work out as planned.

For better or for worse, music took over and I’ve been quite literally singing (and playing guitar and double bass) for my supper ever since... and all the other meals as well.

Although art has had to take something of a back seat, regular visits to Wharfedale a few years ago for some reason made me get the brushes out again. I say ‘for some reason’ because, despite painting in one of the most beautiful areas of the country, I didn’t launch myself solely into landscapes.

As a singer, I’ve avoided pigeon-holes and have sung folk, blues, swing and classical with equal joy. And so I re-approached art in the same spirit. As Picasso said: “I paint everything”.

Whatever the inspiration for a canvas, it’s important for me to capture and to communicate the moment, be that laughter, contemplation, movement, or whatever.