Growing up in England, my interest in art was sparked by a school trip to the National Gallery in London, where I marvelled at the beautiful works by the masters, and wondered how they could capture all the intricacies of shading, tonal contrasts, etc., and make them look so realistic. I particularly enjoyed the works of John Constable, who managed to convey the rich greens of the English landscape.
Art as a career was not really encouraged during my school years, although at home I would spend some time dabbling in painting and drawing, and I particularly enjoyed seeing an object in front of me,
