I was an art student in Melbourne during the 1980’s and studied at Prahran College, taking elective drawing in Pam Hallandal’s drawing Department and ended by teaching in the Drawing Department from 1986-1988. The artwork during the 1980’s in Melbourne was quite dark with work by Peter Booth and others predominating and this was due to the threat of a nuclear war between Russia and America which hung over that entire decade, leading us to believe there would be a catastrophic event.

My interest in drawing has persisted fort he last 40 years. I feel it is my strongest work although I also use ink and watercolour sometimes. My interest is in the battlers of this world; people who find life tough. It is to them that I wish to dedicate this book. I feel those who have suffered share their life in their face, and in their eyes, which are the window of the soul. It was Vincent Van Gogh who also took this as his subject matter and he has been my main influence throughout the last 40 years.