I was born in 1971 in Bowmore Islay, on the West Coast of Scotland. The family moved to Crieff, Perthshire in 1980, where I went to Crieff Primary and Crieff Secondary School. I studied Higher Art at School and had an excellent teacher Peter Kirley. I also enjoyed the Sciences and decided to follow that career path. I studied Applied Mathematics at Dundee University and graduated in 1993 with a BsC Honours degree. I did my post graduate MsC in Actuarial Science at Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, in 1994 and qualified as an Actuary in 1999 .
I now work for a large Bank developing investment products. for retail clients, which I do enjoy despite recent troubles! I live in Glasgow's west end, so I'm spoilt for bars, restaurants and I am very close as well to the excellent Kelvingrove Art Gallery.
I've always been interested in drawing and painting for as long as I can remember, and took up Oil Panting when I got my grandfather's collection of oil paints in the 80's. I didn't paint much though - you’ll see some of my early efforts in the gallery. My student days were busy and I was a little low on cash (oil paint isn't cheap), and after University my actuarial exams were my main focus. I've made a real effort to paint more over the last few years, and try to produce a few decent paintings every year.
I enjoy travelling as well and nice holidays - I speak Spanish to a pretty decent level so naturally we fine ourselves in Spain quite a lot!
I also play Guitar in a blues / rock band called Hurricane 5 - we've played at a few venues including the fantastic Oran Mor on Byres Road, and previously I’ve played with other bands at the Edinburgh Festival, Inverary disconnect feastival and places like the Arches, and the Renfrew Ferry in Glasgow. That’s my treasured Gibson ES355 in the picture, 1967, bought with my paper round money in 1984! I play a PRS Custom now, a very nice treat to myself!
