Introducing The Artist Formerly Known As Doctor!

I wasn't always an artist. I actually only started about a year ago. My background is science, and nuclear-related at that. With a PhD in chemistry I have the pre-nominal title of doctor but I don't use it in my art world. Here's why.

Artist or scientist? I think it's obvious!

I started my career that led me to become a research scientist in the nuclear industry a long time ago. 32 years ago, in fact! Crikey, am I really that old? During all that time I'd never painted and, to be honest, art wasn't really my thing. And abstract art definitely not. In fact, I recall years ago when my wife dragged me to the Tate Modern in London and I was stunned at what was being passed off as art: a stack of different coloured towels (we had that same artwork in our airing cupboard at home!) and a broken fence panel painted in garish blocks of colour! I'm not joking. This trip did not inspire me to fall in love with art.

This all changed when my wife bought me a set of water colours for Christmas in 2018. As I didn't paint I thought this was a rather odd gift. However, my wife is always looking for new hobby ideas to keep me occupied (or out of trouble!). A year later I start to play with the paint set and painted every day for a month until I'd cracked it. Those 30 days are detailed in my About pages if you want to know more.

As my artwork has taken off so too has my appreciation of just how much thought and work goes into a piece. Yes, even abstract! I now paint many abstract paintings and I can truly say that I get it. My own pieces all have a deeper meaning or intent behind them. They are not, as I once thought, just random splodges of paint on a canvas. There is a lot of thought required to be able to produce something that is balanced and thought-provoking.

Since July 2019 I have been amazingly lucky to have been selling my paintings on a regular basis and can even boast a small community of collectors. I could not have imagined that a year ago. And I love it! I am constantly stunned that I'm able to create artwork that others want, and want enough that they will pay good money for and display in their own homes. When I produce a commission, the look on the face of a happy client is also huge bonus for me and I want to keep repeating it.

So, despite over 30 years in the nuclear industry and holding three degrees and the title doctor I'm more happy to identify as an artist. In fact, when people ask what I do these days, I tell them I'm an artist. I don't mention my day job at all. Would being titled doctor help me sell more art? I doubt it. I think people buy art because they like what they see not because of someone's title. So, I don't tend to use mine. In a nod to the pop legend that was Prince I'm now The Artist Formerly Known As Doctor! TAFKAD! Oh dear, perhaps not!