I KNOW EVERYONE says that no two days are the same in their life, and that's true, but it would be more accurate to say I have two completely different lives. I have my single-mum life when I am at home in Fulham, London, with my autistic son Freddie, and I have my classic car life when I could be anywhere in the world, painting live at Historic festivals and attending events. Neither is a life I could have imagined 15 years ago.
I was born and brought up in London but went to boarding school in Eastbourne from the age of seven. I was always obsessed with drawing and art and the facilities at St Bede's were superb, so I totally immersed myself in it. I went on to Francis Holland, did my Foundation in Brighton, on to Central St Martins and then the Royal College of Art for my MA. As graduation neared in 2003 I panicked about what I was going to do, then I was advised by the late, great war photographer Tom Stoddart to find a niche. I have always been good at drawing mechanical things and people, and my style has always been very reportage, so I started doing themed exhibitions on London's Glamorous Restaurants or behind the scenes at London Fashion Week.
At that point I had a day job at Reed Exhibitions, but I was always drawing people: in the hair salon, at the dental surgery and even strip clubs. Having arranged to do some live drawing at Stringfellows I turned up and Geoff - Peter's brother - said: 'Hello love, are you here for the audition? Get your kit off and let's see what you can do.'
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Esta historia es de la edición October 2022 de Octane.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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Will China Change Everything? - China is tearing up modern motor manufacture but is yet to make more than a ripple in the classic car world. That could be about to change dramatically
China now dominates the automotive world in a way even Detroit in its heyday would have struggled to comprehend.Helped by Government incentives, the new car world is dominated by China's industries: whether full cars that undercut Western models by huge amounts, ownership of storied European brands such as Lotus and Volvo, or ownership and access to the vast majority of raw materials that go into EV cars, its influence is far-reaching and deep. However, this automotive enlightenment hasn't manifested itself in the classic world in any meaningful way - until now.
Jem Marsh
The hard-bitten Marcos boss was driven like few others and never knew when he was beaten. Thankfully
Vandamm House
A Mid-Century Modernist masterpiece that was immortalised on celluloid - despite never actually existing
Making light
Alfa Romeo's post-war renaissance began with the 1900 saloon - and matured with Zagato's featherweight coupé version, as Jay Harvey discovers
FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE
Is burgeoning classic car interest in the Middle East good for the global classic market? Nathan Chadwick investigates
Before the beginning
This rare Amazon Green pre-production Range Rover is Velar chassis number 4. James Elliott charts its historically revealing factory restoration
Ben Cussons
As the outgoing chairman of the Royal Automobile Club hands on to his successor, Robert Coucher quizzes him about the evolution of this great British institution
BULLDOG & THE PUPPIES
We gather five motoring masterpieces by avant-garde designer William Towns - and drive all of them
Below the tip of the Audrain iceberg
As the Audrain organisation grows, we take a look behind the scenes at the huge car collection that feeds it
Flying the Scottish flag
Young Ecurie Ecosse driver Chloe Grant gets to grips with the Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar C-type at Goodwood. Matthew Hayward is Octane's witness
