David Raison

I'm a freelance IT consultant who likes to paint. Fortunately, the two disciplines gel quite well.

All my work is in oils, mostly on canvas and canvas boards, sometimes on paper and comprises mainly landscape and still life. I'm still getting to grips with portraiture.

I'd like to think that my painting has improved since going to evening classes at the Epsom Centre (adult education), as Shuhua Jin, the tutor, was most helpful and didn't try to impose his own style but aimed to develop the student's. We were a jolly bunch that all got on together and took an interest in what and how each other is painting. Sadly, this class was abandoned due to lack of numbers. I now go to the Cobham AE centre and attend a mixed Drawing and Painting class. I don't get as much out of this class but even this will be short lived, as the local authority is selling the site for redevelopment.

I first got into oils as a direct result of watching 'Rolf on Art'. I'd always used pencils and watercolour for my feeble attempts at artwork but had never felt comfortable, particularly with the watercolours. When Rolf mentioned why he preferred oils over acrylic (no colour change and better consistency), I was hooked. Searching the internet, I found a one-day workshop, £25 all in, just what I was looking for. I could try out this new medium without committing myself to loads of expenditure. I was hooked.

You can see more of my art at www.davidraison.co.uk

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