I have been painting all my life; having had no formal art training, I am a self taught artist. I was first encouraged by my late father Mark Proctor, who was a commercial artist. My father could sketch almost anything very well and quickly; which always fascinated me, and I wanted to be able do it to, so he showed me how. My first paintings (which I still have) were of birds, as I have always had a big interest in Natural History. Aged nine I illustrated a little book of my own that was “copied” from the British book of birds; which was illustrated by my now favourite artist Raymond Harris Ching. I suppose from the day I completed that little book I was hooked! I have previously painted most subjects but have recently concentrated on people again. Simple studies of everyday people doing everyday things, the way a person walks or stands, sometimes just the shape of some people fascinates me. I love to watch and paint them. I included my son Jack in a recent painting (Footsteps) and that has led to more and more paintings of him. He “like all young children” is beauty in motion; a totally free spirit without the weight of the world upon him yet. As we grow up life shows on us all, but kids are “truly natural” and that’s what I want to show in the paintings of Jack, a lovely little boy doing little boy things.