Later my fascination with the middle ages, and with other historical subjects translated into serious study. I gained A-levels in Art and in History, as well as enduring GNVQ courses in Business Studies. I went on to secure a Joint Honours Degree in Art and History at the University of Worcester. Aside from my official studies, since my teens I had been reading more and more on the Knights Templar- initially as background for planned novel, ultimately as research for a history dissertation on the suppression of the Order.

In post-student life, I developed as a writer and became something of a historian. In 2001/2 I wrote and illustrated my factual book 'The Rise and Fall of the Knights Templar: The Order of the Temple, 1118-1314, a True History of Faith, Glory Betrayal and Tragedy', (published by Spellmount in 2003). A painting of mine also featured on the cover. Since then I have written several articles for Templar History Magazine, an international publication (based in Canada) edited by fellow-author Stephen Dafoe. One issue has also contained an interview I gave about my artwork. More recently I became a postgraduate student and have completed a Masters Degree in Crusader Studies, split between Royal Holloway and Queen Mary's University of London. I wrote my dissertation this time on 'The Cult of Mary Magdalene and the World of the Crusades'. Subsequently I completed a second history book, the Templar A-Z, published in 2008. Literature wise, I have also made an abortive start on a dark novel set in the aftermath of the Albigensian Crusade.

Art, however, is my primary occupation. My paintings have shown in a number of galleries and exhibitions, including the 'Baroque Blue' exhibition laid on in 2006 by the Primo Piano LivingGallery in Lecce, Italy. My largest and probably most impressive painting so far is 'Templar Mass,' which was commissioned in July 2005. I hope to continue to progress as a painter. I use oils, primarily, though I have experimented with other media including digital art. In my work, besides historical and romantic themes, I have an interest in the human figure and much of my painted output incorporates this. My female figures at their best are graceful and enigmatic and expressive of emotion, and the spiritual aspect of my work has been commented on. I have also painted some sinister gothic scenes from the darker recesses of my mind- morbid and mournful subject matter which offers some strange solace. It is not all deathly gloom, though, as humourous and uplifting subjects also have their place in my output.

I am somewhat drawn to the enchanted worlds conjured by contemporary fantasy artists, but my favourite art is that of the past. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Celts, and the artists of Rome and Byzantium have informed my taste. Above all the age of chivalry, crusades and cathedrals fascinates me. I also enjoy art from the Renaissance to the late Victorian Romantics and Symbolists. I find little to inspire me in the art movements of the twentieth century (with the possible exception of Surrealism). Regretably, the last century has produced a perverse new art establishment. Turner-Prize art is a horrible joke, and is something that interests me little. Galleries are filled with items devoid of artistic merit, reliant on lashings of disingenuous conceptualist babble for their justification. It all seems wrong to me. In these times feature films and music videos are more likely to reflect the great artistic tradition rejected by the current art establishment.

Art for me is often a matter of images coming into my head and demanding to be released. Though an intellectual process too, Art is an outlet for my impulsive (if not compulsive) creative side. I would have liked to give some explanations alongside the images in my galleries here, by way of commentary, and indeed sometimes I have. On the whole, though, I have left it to the viewers to make up their own stories to go with the images. I hope my work contains ingredients to spark the imagination. I generally like pictures to have poetic contents but mundane, descriptive titles. Anything else would seem a pretentious attempt to tell the viewer what to make of the piece. A basic title allows the story to emerge and elaborate in the viewer's mind without verbal prompting. Occasionally, however, my pictures illustrate or allude to stories that others or I have written, and more specifics can be gleaned.

I hope you enjoy thi s site. I mean to keep the galleries updated with new work so if you like what you see it may be worth your time to come again and see what else appears. I also appreciate any feedback that visitors may care to leave.
Thanks and best wishes,

GN