I've taken some time out from my taxidermy assemblage art over the last 18 months or so to get back to painting. In art you need to go where your inspiration takes you, and the act of painting oil on board I find cathartic. My work is mainly inspired by nature and the Proustian concept of involuntary memory. With this in mind I've gone back my childhood, with 'Wombling free' the first painting in the gallery below. As a kid growing up, it was hard not to fall for the charms of The Wombles on TV, and as with some of my other work I've included a Golly which, while perhaps controversial now, wer ..read more

The Cremation of Ian Broomfield (07.03.1945 - 15.08.2001)                       In memory of my father   I've been looking back at my late father Ian Broomfield's oil paintings recently (see gallery below). He was a huge influence on me, not just as a parent but as a talented artist. At the core of my own oil on board paintings and my taxidermy assemblage art, is Proust and his mantra that objects trigger memories. I have vivid memories of my father painting at home - and so my father's paintings not only directly influenced my work ..read more

We have recently had a short break, visiting family in France. While there I spotted this stunning work of art on a house in Argenton-sur-Creuse. I felt the flamingos were reminiscent of my own oil on board painting 'The Dance' which is one of seven pieces I have on show at Broomhill Art & Sculpture Gardens here in North Devon until the end of July (click here for more). It looks stunning, and I love the fact that someone had the conviction to paint it on their house - and that it overlooked the most beautiful river. On the opposite river bank there is a big cathedral, it's spire dominatin ..read more

Broomhill Art Hotel, just outside Barnstaple in North Devon, is now hosting an exhibition of seven of my new oil on board paintings. They will be on show until the end of July 2018. I'm grateful to this fabulous venue for their continued support for my art. I have previously had a successful exhibition of my taxidermy assemblage boxes there, and been guest speaker for the North Devon Arts group in their gallery. If you haven't checked it out yet, or perhaps not been for a while, Broomhill is home to the National Sculpture Prize, the stunning sculpture gardens and the award-winning restaur ..read more

Medium: Oil on Board My work has always been predominantly inspired by nature but I also frequently make reference to the Proustian concept of involuntary memory. I’ve always been fascinated by and collected tribal art figures. Depicted in these paintings are fertility figures from the late 19th and early 20th Centuries from the Dogon, Fang Gabon, Sepic River and Baoulé tribes. Carved by hand with very basic tools over a century ago or more, I feel that they conjure memories for me of their makers, their owners and keepers throughout their history. Often carved to represent the souls and spiri ..read more

The international children's charity, Arms Around The Child, have expressed their profound gratitude to all the artists, committee members, press and collectors who supported the Art Around The Child, 'Home is where the Heart is' art auction at the Fiat Chrysler Motor Village in London this month. £50,000 was raised from the silent and online auction, and the live auction with Hugh Edmeades, Christie's International Director of Auctioneering. Curator Lee Sharrock worked closely with charity global director Ellie George Milner and partnered with Monica Colussi&nbs ..read more

I've taken a step back from my taxidermy art for a little while to indulge my passion for painting. There's something very cathartic about working with oil on board, primal even. The first work shown below is 'Dogon and the flamingo' (139cm x 86cm), and is inspired by the carvings of the African tribe the Dogon - incredible art which is now highly collectible. The ancestral Nommo figure is a running motif in many of these tribal carvings. 'Via con dias' (139cm x 86cm) reflects on the special time I spend in the ocean - I love kayaking, fishing, surfing and wandering the shoreline looking for ..read more

Online bidding is open now for the 'Home is Where the Heart is' auction, raising money to fund the work of children’s charity Arms Around the Child, to build a home for HIV+ orphans in Jaipur, India. You can see the all of the works created and donated in an exhibition at Fiat Chrysler Motor Village, Marylebone, London from November 9th - 16th with opening hours of 9am to 5pm, and you can bid online by clicking here. Curated by Lee Sharrock in association with Monica Colussi, 'Home is Where the Heart is' includes artwork by Sir Peter Blake, The House of Fairy Tales, Gavin Turk, David Byr ..read more

The latest artists have been announced who are supporting the 'Art Around the Child' auction on November 16th. It takes place at the Fiat Chrysler Motor Village UK in Wigmore Street, London. Art created by children in India and Africa will go under the hammer, alongside work donated by an array of leading artists, to raise funds for the Arms Around the Child - a charity helping to build a home and create new opportunities for HIV+ orphans in Jaipur, India. Curators of this landmark event are Lee Sharrock and Monica Colussi, with Ellie Milner from the charity Arms Around the Chil ..read more

Art Around the Child: November 16th, a selection of artworks to raise funds for the Arms Around the Child - a charity helping to build a home for HIV+ orphans in Jaipur, India. Curators Lee Sharrock with Monica Colussi, and Ellie Milner from the charity Arms Around the Child, are bringing together an array of talented contemporary artists for this landmark event - here's the latest: INTRODUCING TONI GALLAGHER In the late 1990’s Toni graduated from Brunel University.   After a stint training as an Ice Carver, Gallagher decided she needed a slightly warmer career path. Toni came in fr ..read more