Firefighting art pre-christmas sale

In 2009- 2010 I did a series of paintings from my work as a firefighter. I had exhibitions at Inchmore Gallery, Inverness airport, and Tore Gallery with these. The art works and others are all available from my website as reproduction prints at £20.

I'm also offering up some of the original artwork at sale prices- these make unusual retirement gifts or great Christmas presents for someone special. I will consider payment by installments. Email me if interested in finding out more. E-Mail Here .

'Rainbow over training'. 64cm x 84 cm. framed canvas. Acrylic. was £400 , now £200.

' B-Post rip training' 31cm x 46cm. Acrylic on paper, unframed large window mount, cellophane wrapped. was £290 ( framed ) Now £90.

'Checking on a colleague' 33cm x 47cm. Acrylic on paper, unframed large window mount, cellophane wrapped. was £340 ( framed ) Now £120.

'Hoses ready'. 'Checking on a colleague' 33cm x 47cm. Acrylic on paper, unframed large window mount, cellophane wrapped. was £340 ( framed ) Now £120.

'BA Teams', 80cm x 60cm. Acrylic on canvas, Framed. was £450 ( framed ) Now £300.

'Toscaig Wildfire', 49cm x 34cm. Acrylic on paper, Framed and mounted. was £115 ( framed ) Now £60.

'Pump Training', 29cm x 38cm. Acrylic on paper, Framed and mounted. was £100 ( framed ) Now £55.

'United',  54cm x 48cm. Acrylic on paper, Framed and mounted. was £250 ( framed ) Now £200.

public sector cuts?

Here is a bit of art work I've done this week for some of my colleagues are who's area Fire brigade have basically run out of money. Its just not funny. After the public sector strike last week about pensions I've heard a lot of complaining that the public sector being unrealistic and 'throwing toys out the pram' about the cut backs. This is simply not the case, The argument that the free market will provide all is simply unrealistic. Where is the profit in caring, educating or saving lives? We had a voluntary Fire service up here before, in my time. We laugh about the things that happened in those days, some would like to go back to the freedom of it. But the way things were, the equipment we had to use, the dangers and risks were simply not acceptable. We cannot have emergency services who are not trained or equipped properly. This is what the private sector has provided during the london strikes, this was what we had as volunteers in the past. It is just not acceptable. Why should members of our communities and Fire fighters die because of economic problems caused by banks and government financial mismanagement? We are not all in it together but we should all unite against the unjust cutbacks and fight for a progressive and fair UK.

I'm quite exited about the latest Firefighting paintings I'm doing & would love to post a sequence of progress photos, how ever the last two pictures are gifts, hence surprises for firemen, so it would spoil the whole thing. There's a wee watercolour , I'll tell you the story once the fireman in question has received it. The one I'm working on the moment is a portrait in action, on canvas for a retirement present. Its been one thing painting my own crew in action, but its quite a privilege painting these other chaps, we're a diverse bunch us firefighters & there's a world of difference between whole timers & us retained, and yet the brotherhood thing is really strong, hard to explain. I guess the intensity of experience we go through is something we can't really describe, even if i had to leave the fire service tomorrow, its touch lasts for ever. The sweat, tears, laughter, crackle & roar of flames, smash of glass, crunch of metal, acrid smoke burning lungs, adrenalin clarity & slow motion ultra focus.

I've been sent some great photos from other colleague's I can't wait to paint. thanks guys & keep them coming ! meantime here's something i can show you... stand by for more.