I began painting in acrylics during the first Covid-19 Lockdown March to July 2020, and have continued ever since. I work as an artist alongside my life as an author of fiction and non-fiction books, which I write under the pen-name SC Skillman. I paint places of inspiration, whether real or imagined. Painting has been a source of joy, peace and hope to me. All fears and worries melt away when I begin painting. I delight in using bright, fresh colours, and I paint in a naive style. I hope that my paintings evoke a sense of childlike wonder.

Through my art, I create images of places I’d like to go to. Recurrent themes in my paintings include landscape gardens, lakes, rivers, winding paths, bridges, fantasy pagodas or gazebos, Tudor houses, and a profusion of flowers, trees and sculptural plants. I also like to have some kind of wow factor, a magical element, a hint that this is not wholly our physical, material world.

I hope you enjoy looking at my paintings as much as I enjoy creating them.