As a landscape painter, I am constantly looking for new subjects to capture on canvas, preserving the uniqueness of the local area, which is rapidly changing and becoming increasingly built up. For a long time I contemplated starting a new series of paintings featuring rustic run down sheds and garages, but was unsure how to incorporate them into my landscapes. I also wished to carry out more figurative studies, having been inspired during frequent visits to France by Van Gogh’s ‘Farm Workers’ and Cezanne’s ‘Card Players’.

The thing which first caught my attention about the allotments in 2005 was the nostalgic atmosphere, and the characters I met during my visits who seemed to retain a quintessential British love of the land. Those who work on the allotment describe it as a sanctuary, a place where they are able to escape their day to day lives, and enjoy a piece of country life regardless of their troubles.