The Little Prince

This is a small 8 x 6" portrait of the artist (at the age of about 6) painted in oils on linen canvas for my dad's 70th birthday.


My family always celebrated Three Kings Day on 6th January (Epiphany) when I was a child. In Switzerland, if not elsewhere on the continent, it's celebrated by having a special currant bun cake for breakfast. Inside one of the buns a small plastic figure of a queen is hidden, and if you find it, then you are crowned king for the day.

As a boy I found this all very exciting, and I wound myself up with great expectations. If I lost to one of my brothers - as usually happened - I was completely crestfallen.

One year, when I was about 6 years old, I was so upset when I lost that my dad went out of his way to make me my own crown, which I honestly thought was much better than the one that had come with the cake. This painting is of the moment just after my own special coronation.

I painted this canvas not as an exercise in conceit, but because it symbolises everything that my dad has done on behalf of his family over the years, and it was my way of saying thank you.

Asking Price: Not for Sale

El Abuelito

El Abuelito is painted in oils on linen canvas, measures 100 x 150 cm, and is dedicated to a very great friend of mine called, Oscar. It's a portrait of his grandfather, who I met in his home in Chiquinquirá, Colombia. [Click on image for larger picture]

The painting is a character study. Despite his age, Oscar's grandfather is still impressive; he gives off an energy which is almost palpable, and which- though he was very kind and generous to me - I found a little intimidating.

To express this interplay between physical weakness and strength of character I wanted to paint him - as best I could - in the style of an old-fashioned portrait, the sort which were painted for nobles and dignitaries in the past. I had him pose for me seated because, in pre-columbian art especially, it signifies authority and power. The size of the canvas obviously adds to the impression too; it's practically life-size. At the same time, however, the seated position also makes him seem tired, betraying his age.




Visiting Colombia was a great honour for me, and I will always be indebted to Oscar for giving me the opportunity. It is a very beautiful and fascinating country, full of warm and generous people, and I definitely want to return to visit my friends there, and to find more inspiration. Before then, however, I have a few more canvases planned from my first trip.

Asking Price: £2,750