I am currently based on the tropical east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa with my beautiful wife and companion. We are blessed with two adult children, and I am still adjusting to, but embracing, the special title of "grandfather".

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Roots and Influences

I grew up in a small farming town in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in the 60’s and 70’s. Strong family and personal values were the norm in society back then but, in South Africa at that time, so too was apartheid. As young, privileged whites we grew up oblivious to the suffering of the majority of our citizens such was the power of the government in controlling the media with its fear-centred and divisive spin of events. It was the era of the Cold War with Soviet and Chinese backed insurgencies sweeping across Africa as nationalism and emancipation from European colonial powers gained momentum. As a 19-year-old white male, I had no choice but to serve my time of National Service in the military, the alternatives being imprisonment or exile. Naive and, to some extent brain washed, I became immersed in the bush war on the South West African (Namibian)/Angolan border. This period had a deep effect on me and I have never been able to fully share my experiences. Thank God it left no serious scars on my psyche but it did open my youthful eyes to the senseless brutality of war, injustice and the suffering of the innocents caught in the middle of conflicting ideologies.

I trained as a teacher and taught for over 20 years before entering the world of business and commerce. My CV is diverse and includes the roles of Financial Advisor; Environmental Education Educator/Trainer; Deputy Principal; Human Resource Manager for an aviation company; Tour Guide; General Manager for a national NGO; Recruitment. My real passions, energising and purpose-filled moments involve inspiring and motivating people, connecting with the natural world and using my creative giftings.

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Purpose

Life cannot be lived solely in bubbles and no experience on our journey is ever wasted. Milestones of learning and growth litter the trail between valleys of toil and mountain tops of success as we navigate our way through life. The high peaks of dreams fulfilled are sometimes elusive, often requiring absolute commitment and dedication to the pursuit of happiness and the “good life”.  The achievement of goals and the realisation of dreams often overshadow the necessary valleys of indecision and grind which are sometimes tedious and confusing with dead-end ravines and paths as we search for meaning, purpose and destiny.

I have learnt much and have had to adapt and be flexible, bending in the winds of change and opportunity. The valleys of fog, interspersed by rays of sunshine and hope, are often the most enriching times as character is forged through trials and we start understanding this thing called “purpose”. (I live in a constant tension between laziness and selfish indulgence vs not achieving my true potential and living a life of insignificance - not using what God has given me to make a difference to people and communities with whom I am in contact with)

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Change

At the age of 60 something I was channeled through circumstances and choice to embark on a new chapter involving risk and the unknown outside the “security” of a regular job. I feel that God often captures our attention through challenging circumstances and events, refining us and reminding us of what should be our devotion and focus. My long-neglected creative passions which I have flirted with infrequently and sporadically over the years are now becoming my main focus…a scary time!

Our vision and dream is to generate remote income while travelling for a few months at a time through southern Africa in our camper van, gathering material while camping in the magnificent wilderness areas of our country and continent, influencing through writing, art, photography and education. My spirit is moved by the hand of the Creator in wilderness and it is where I feel most alive. This is our dream while we are still blessed with good health. My wife is also learning new skills and is on a steep learning trajectory – I am so proud of her!

 

Soul Food

I am inspired by the world around me and I am enriched by life and experiences which often move me to craft thought-provoking and hopefully life-changing words and images which will arrest and challenge – I love encouraging and uplifting people! My writing is often impulsive as I react to events around me and the stirring in my spirit.

Capturing light, colour, texture, lines and mood through photography and art is fulfilling and rewarding as I seek to develop my own unique and different style(s). This is an ongoing journey of experimentation, trial and error. I am fascinated by composition and design, both natural and built, and I am inspired by many creatives whose work resonates with my preferences and values.

 

ART

Mediums

I work in charcoal, pencil, acrylics, water colour, coloured pencil, marker pens, mixed media…open to anything!

Styles

I don’t like to be “boxed” into any specific style although my love of graphics, illustration, line, texture and design is evident in much of my work.

I gravitate towards detail and realism as well as simple and stylised representations without being overly abstract.

I love pop art and colourful illustration techniques – printing and the power of images in media and public spaces as instruments of change fascinate and inspire me.

Subject Matter/Projects

Retro, vintage and iconic subjects often including vehicle marques and places.

Ocean, surfing and wave art.

Fauna and flora.

Conservation themed subjects highlighting endangered and threatened species.

Fish and fly fishing.

The built environment depicting the fascinating places where people work, live and play.

People, life and living.

Mural/wall Art Commissions

I have limited experience in painting murals on a large scale but I thoroughly enjoyed it when I did. I would love to brighten up urban environments with thought-provoking and inspirational murals.

Digital Art

Digital drawing, illustrations and design is a format that I hope to launch into soon along with commercial applications of my work.

Orders

Most of my art is for sale as prints on canvas or other formats subject to the client’s preferences and budget.

Original art is sold at a premium based on personal communication with me (See FAQ page)

 

PHOTOGRAPHY

While I don’t claim to be a professional or technical photographer, I do firmly believe that the hallmark of a good photographic image is composition. There must be evidence of a good “eye” for composition and light. A cell phone camera in the hands of a photographer with the “eye” will generally capture more pleasing images than someone with an expensive camera who does not have an intrinsic “feel” for the capture.

Subjects

I shoot and capture what moves my soul and senses – for me, photography and art are synonymous. Inspiration for my art is captured mostly in digital format first as reference for later interpretation in whatever style I feel appropriate.

Most of my photography to date has focused on capturing the African landscape - living and non-living components of this amazing environment, big and small, the dramatic and seemingly mundane. I am equally mesmerised by a dried leaf lying in the dust, each vein popping out in wonderful detail showcasing death and decay, as I am by the adrenaline pumping proximity of a curious elephant getting too close for comfort.

Architectural design, in all its forms, and the built environment are spaces that inspire me. The human stories and drama within these spaces need to be captured on film, art and in words, the forgotten voices and the inconvenient truths.  

Formats

I mostly film in high resolution jpeg or RAW on my mirrorless digital camera or cell phone camera (sometimes the camera at hand for the shot is the best camera for the job).

Projects

I want to improve my skills in landscape photography and capturing people and their stories. Videography and drone photography are new frontiers which I want to explore and develop specifically for travel and education.

Orders

Selected photographic works are for sale as prints, canvas or other formats subject to the client’s preferences and budget (See FAQ page)

 

WRITING

I have to write! I feel compelled to write either as short bursts on social media, in longer articles for publications or in personal words of encouragement to people weighing on my heart. I find it incredibly rewarding to share lessons and thoughts in life and learning, sometimes inspired by nature and the window of my world, especially when receiving feedback that a word shared has made a difference in someone’s life, bringing hope and light in dark and difficult spaces…this is part of my purpose!

Contracted Writing

I am open to accepting writing assignments in the following categories:

General content

Travel

Reviews

Research

Proposals and concepts

Education material

*Please email me to discuss specific requirements

 

EDUCATION

As an experienced and passionate environmental educationist, I want to create sensory, creative and life-changing opportunities for adults and children to experience nature away from the distractions of technology.

 Humans are generally becoming increasingly alienated from the natural world – we are insulated and desensitised to the very relationships and systems which sustain life on our planet. This is particularly evident in children where “Nature Deficit Disorder” has been identified as an important factor associated with problems in childhood development ie the absence of regular exposure to the outdoors and the “outdoor classroom”. 

I am exploring the area of combining environmental education, observation skills, art, writing, photography and life skills. These will take the form of excursions into nature in a relaxed and enjoyable manner with FUN as the core ingredient.

 *Launching this project will take place when circumstances, opportunity and timing align!