1955 Baby Boomer, b. Milton Lodge, Fleetwood, best of times in this Lancashire fishing town that was also booming back then. My dad, Douglas Gordon, had two careers, a fish filleter, a musician. He drew people too. His creative encouragement filtered down to me, showed at school. I came top or near the top in art throughout school days. Thornton Secondary Modern school reports, though musty, still cherished. Gained ‘O’ Levels in art & technical drawing. Art college and a career in technical illustration thought likely. I wasn’t ready to leave home. Then dad passed suddenly. I worked in nearby ICI factory to earn money.
Into my 20s marriage to school-days sweetheart. Then, six years later, separation as I left the Fylde coast to embark on a social work career to qualify, University of Manchester. Painting back room studio of terraced house, Rusholme. On qualifying, worked for variety of local authorities, soon to be an ‘agency worker’. Torn between earning a living and finding time to paint.
In my 30s Life-drawing classes, Birmingham (Acocks Green college) then Liverpool at the university. Then sold a house, bought another, rented it out. A sabbatical from social work to paint in studio Palamos, Catalunia, 8months, then 4months Lake District. Rented my house out again. Funds acquired. Take off from social work to travel more instead. Make drawings of sacred sites from around the world.
Briefly back to social work only to resign again, travel to the south Pacific, create a portrait of infamous 18th century Mutineer, Fletcher Christian. Project went ‘viral’, 1994 both national &!worldwide interest. Several art exhibitions & sales ensued.
My 40s – sold house. More world travel, painting Sacred sites, then a studio in Wembley. Study University of London, Birkbeck College, complete 4year Art History degree also attending summer schools, Slade School of Art. Sell paintings to Cadogan family London, Thomas-Davies family Buckinghamshire, Khalsa family Hampshire, Morris family, Liverpool.
Sell at Bonham’s 1996, oil painting, ‘Moonlit Bounty Bay’.
My 50s, career painting sales totalled 120. But, now I’m a dad. Resumption of ‘agency’ social work, gain a more certain regular monthly income, fund family life. Painting sales sporadic. Buy house, South Manchester. Two more houses bought and rented out.
