Was born in Southwold and studied at Lowestoft School of Art for three years. He started his own business as a signwriter (shades of John Crome, leading light of the Norwich Society of Artists in the nineteenth century) and among his first clients was Adnams Brewery. His passion for the sea took him from fishing weekends to fishing full time in a 26 ft boat that he had practically built himself. He was also an RNLI crewman.He returned to signwriting when fishing declined and rapidly regained his old clients including Adnam's Brewery.He has now handed over the business to his son and developed his painting of pictures, notably for fishermen of their boats. His eye for detail coupled with his feeling for the romance and mystery of the sea inform all his work.