I have been interested in drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. Born and raised in London, I studied Art at school to 'A' level, but otherwise received no formal art training. After achieving a university degree, I worked in the marketing department of a firm which produced office machinery and equipment. I then trained as a teacher of economics and business studies, and have now been teaching for over 30 years.

I work in pen and ink, watercolour, oil, pastels and pencil. My subject matter is varied, although I particularly enjoy cityscapes, and also find portraits both challenging and rewarding. Life drawing and painting has become a relatively recent interest, and I have been attending a local life drawing class to help develop my skills. From the time I as a pupil at school, I have produced cartoons and caricatures.

I have exhibited work in the local library on a number of occasions, and also in a small local gallery.

My own tastes in art are quite conventional. Much of 'modern' art is lost on me (an unmade bed, a pile of bricks, a blank canvas with a tear in it etc.) unless it is visually stimulating. I prefer to be able to see a certain level of skill involved. I do recognise that this might be a problem with my appreciation of the meaning of 'art' and to some extent I am admiring the 'craft'. My favourite artists range from Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Vermeer and Velazquez, to Monet, Renior, Schiele, some Picasso and Braque. I also admire the work of Ronald Searle, Gerald Scarfe and Ralph Steadman - all masters of 'line'.

Kevin Butters