The client wanted a reproduction of Sir Henry Raeburn’s famous Scottish masterpiece as a birthday gift which now has pride of place in their home, which is also a successful B&B near Arbroath on the East coast of Scotland. I loved doing this one, it is an immediately recognisable image and gets a great response from all who see it.

The actual painting hangs in the Scottish National Gallery so I was able to study it up close.

Caravaggio is one of my favourite Old Master Painters. When I saw it for the first time in the flesh at The National Gallery in London I was bowled over by its power and immediacy. It was then that I knew I wanted to recreate it, I wanted one for myself! It was also an opportunity to study hisj ‘cinematic’ technique, his audacious style of figures emerging from darkness.

In 2017 I embarked on a series of Scottish landscape paintings for a show of my work at The Alessandro Gallery in Broughty Ferry, Dundee. Being a long time admirer of Landseer’s iconic painting I thought I would recreate it and include it in the show.

At the time it was privately owned so I couldn’t see it up close but such is its fame and popularity I sourced many images of it in books as well as online for me to confidently work from.

The painting I’m most proud of is this, a copy of Millais’ “Ophelia”. The meticulous realism and detail were a real challenge which is probably why I took it on! At 6 months it’s my longest endeavour but I did move house as well so that stretched things out a bit.

My copy of Horatio McCulloch’s “Glencoe” is the largest of my paintings, yet the original displayed at the Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow, is larger still. I took many close up photos so I could study and recreate the finer details of his masterpiece. “Glencoe” is an iconic Scottish painting of one of Scotland’s most beautiful Glens, and a long time favourite of my own, which I enhanced with my own framing.

Rembrandt, in my view, is the undisputed master painter of all time. His ouvre of work is unsurpassed in my humble opinion, so to try and recreate any of his paintings would be a huge challenge. His Self Portrait aged 34 painted in 1640 is representative of his early, highly finished technique, of a painter at the height of his fame and popularity, I needed to up my game for this one!

Recreating a Vermeer has always been an ambition of mine, but up til now I haven’t had the confidence to try! A trip to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam was all the impetus I needed though as his Milkmaid made quite an impression on me. His skill and ability is incredible, I was just pleased to have done a decent copy

This Rembrandt self portrait hangs in the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh, not far from me. Countless times I’ve seen it up close and marvelled at his exquisite technique, it’s incredible. His late style differs greatly from his earlier, the paint is applied much more thickly, but with equally precise and descriptive effect. I loved the challenge that presented and had to adapt to it to make a convincing copy.

The Man with a Golden Helmet isn’t a Rembrandt but it’s had my attention for as long as I’ve been aware of it. I’m in awe of the artist’s bravura, the representation of reflected light on the helmet is incredible, so this was a hugely enjoyable project to have undertaken.

I was struck immediately by Reidel’s treatment of the richly patterned fabric. Reproducing that was a real challenge, hopefully I’ve done it justice. It was also a great opportunity to paint the varied tones and hues of her white fabric as well as the shiny hard surface of her sword.
The biblical story of Judith beheading Holofernes is a popular subject for artists, it’s my response to the current conflict in Ukraine, highlighting the heroism and defiance required in “Wars of Liberation” as well as the bravery and self confidence of women.