For most of my life, I never imagined I’d become a full-time artist. In fact, for years, I thought I’d missed my chance entirely. But looking back now, I realise my journey was never about following the perfect path - it was about rediscovering a passion that had been with me all along.
This first part of my story takes me back to where it all began - childhood inspirations, missed opportunities, and how I almost lost touch with art completely.
Childhood Inspirations
As a child, I loved to draw. I wouldn’t have called it a real strength, but it was something I naturally gravitated towards, especially during school projects where I could be creative.
One of my earliest memories was a primary school project on planes, where I spent hours sketching different aircraft - another childhood passion of mine. Around the same time, a few friends and I even started a little hand-drawn school magazine. I wrote an article called “How to Draw” and included a detailed illustration of my own hand holding a pen. It took us so long to finish all the comic strips and articles that we only ever managed to produce a single issue - but I loved every minute of it.
My First Taste of Recognition
One of the biggest early milestones came when I entered an art and story competition for primary schools in East Kilbride. I wrote a short story about our black rabbit, Dab, who had to be rehomed at Calderglen Children's Zoo. To go with the story, I painted Dab in his new home.
Me (front centre) with my grand prize and my painting on display (second left)
To my amazement, I was picked as the overall winner of the competition. My painting was displayed alongside the other winners and runners-up, and for a moment, I felt like I’d found my calling. At that point in time, I thought I’d paint forever.
Losing Art Along the Way
But life, as it often does, had other plans.
When I reached high school, I still loved art and even earned a merit in second year. But due to timetable clashes and compulsory subject requirements, I made a decision that, in hindsight, changed everything — I didn’t take art as one of my subjects for my standard grades. Instead, I chose Computing and Technological Studies.
At just 13 years old, my art journey quietly came to a stop before it had even truly begun.
Throughout the rest of school, I watched friends continue with their art studies, completing their highers and eventually going off to the Glasgow School of Art. I, meanwhile, took a different route, heading to Strathclyde University to study Computer Science.
Being around friends who were immersed in art only made me more aware of what I felt I was missing. I couldn’t help but wonder what my life might have looked like if I’d made a different choice.
A Different Path
After graduating with an honours degree in Computer Science, I built a career as a web designer, working for decades on websites and digital projects. My creative side was still there, but art - real, hands-on painting and drawing - faded quietly into the background.
For a long time, I assumed that chapter of my life was closed.
But fate had other ideas. It was during this time that I met Carla, my future wife, while working together. Neither of us knew it at the time, but a simple birthday gift from her would change everything, and lead me back to the passion I thought I’d lost forever.
Coming Up in Part 2
This is where my journey takes an unexpected turn. In Part 2 of this series, I’ll share how a single oil painting kit rekindled my love for art, how I taught myself the techniques I’d missed out on in school, and how I began to develop my own style as a painter.