After 12 years absence, spent in Vietnam, my return to the artworld of the UK was not going to be easy. A lot changes in 12 years. Aesthetics and fashions change, the economy swings, the fortunes of artists and galleries have gone up and down, the cultural mood of a country changes.

I left a stable, optimistic Britain in 2012. It was the year of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the London Olympic games, Andy Murray nearly won Wimbledon, Barack Obama was back in the White House, Bradley Wiggins won the Tour de France and William and Kate are pregnant with their first child. My work was selling well wherever it was exhibited and I decided to spend 12 months in Vietnam to concentrate on my painting.

12 years later, I returned to a very different country that had been scarred by the Covid19 epidemic, there was global economic uncertainty and the rising cost of food and fuel was causing everyone to moderate their spending. The art market was flat and 12 internationally based London galleries had closed as art buying habits had changed. Art fairs and auction houses were grabbing more and more customers across a wider spectrum of tastes and spending power and the explosion of internet shopping had presented new opportunities to artists. High street galleries, all over the provinces were struggling to keep their doors open and had even started charging artists to exhibit their work - can you believe it!

I have produced more than a thousand paintings, drawings, illustrations and sketches while in Vietnam and had a good customer base amongst expats and tourists until Covid19 pulled the rug out from under everyone. I had to close my gallery and was living rather hand to mouth until the UK government came to my rescue with my state pension in 2020. But still, my expat customers were broke and the tourists had not returned. It was time to come home to Yorkshire and start again.

In 12 years, my style had changed along with everything else and I was being seen as some kind of newcomer all over again. My exhibition in June 2024 in Alnmouth was a flop and so I started applying to all the exhibitions and art festivals I could possibly qualify for; The Royal Academy Summer Show, the London Biennale, Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the year, the Saltaire Art Trail, Art in the Pen in Skipton and a few more. My entries to ALL were declined. Oh boy. I also missed the deadline to apply for North Yorkshire Open Studios but was accepted for the Christmas Market in Skipton Town Hall - I guess we all have to start somewhere.

I was truly beginning to despair and wondered what the hell I was doing until onw day, while stewarding at the NYOS exhibition being held at Craven Arts House, I met an experienced and successful artist who shared a few wise words with me after I told my tale of woe.

"Oh", she said "if you are NOT being rejected, you are simply not trying hard enough". That was music to my ears and it has given me the courage to keep on keeping on.

In June 2025, I had a successful show at Alnmouth Festival of Arts, I have fulfilled two small commissions and am now working towards out Autumn exhibition 'Traces- Skipton' s heritage in Focus' It took me a few months but I have finally found my MOJO for this new challenge and I am feeling more optimistic about the future.

In my first 12 months back home, I have met some wonderful local artists, listened to their own struggles and have learned a lot about this Yorkshire of mine. I wouldn't change a thing.