ALAN HUNNISETT

I was born in '55 and grew up in the sleepy mid-Beds village of Barton-le-Cley. With strong passion for the countryside and wildlife, I began illustrating (birds especially) from childhood. Though I took a graphic design diploma course and worked later in related industries (including 6 years doing illlustration and animation for computer games), the guitar had become my obsession since the age of 14, and I did not truly take up painting per se again until my mid-30s. I read every book on the subject for years whilst swinging between watercolour and oil, unable to master either to my satisfaction. Constant practice yields results; I duly settled for oil painting as the way to go... I began to develop my compositional skills by painting still life. Composition is paramount for me. A painting must have strength in this department or it is a flippancy. Jean Baptiste Simeon Chardin (1699 - 1779) is the premier master of still life painting in my estimation, a great colourist too, like..