London, UK, Quite a bit but none relating to the Art world, www.njcox.com

Given up on that . . I’d whip out my iPhone and show them . . . A picture paints a 1000 words, and all that.

I’m self taught. So much has influenced how/what I paint . . The Transglobe Expedition opened my eyes to solitude and vast landscapes then Yves Tanguy showed me how endless a background can be on canvas. . Vermeer and his peers got my full attention with their eye for detail and precision, Dali made me drool, Max Ernst told me to experiment, but Odd Nerdrum is the Master . . . my art GOD. But influences are everywhere.

Does a tofu have legs?

Up daily at 7am, in the studio by 9.30 and then look and see what I want to work on most. On a good day I can work till 9pm . . on a normal day I wind down around 6pm. Pretty much paint 7 days a week when working towards a show. Love painting in daylight.

I prefer to have about 6 paintings on the go (Unless working on a major large piece) I’m a mood painter and a bit of a butterfly.

Can’t paint without my music . . it creates a cocoon for me to work within and sets and nurtures my mood. Always start with something slow . . .Koop, David Sylvian, Enigma, Lee Oskar, Software, Air, Thievery Corporation etc

Lately I’ve been starting with Koop every morning and when the day grows old, get onto more motivating tunes . . . Steely Dan or Ziggy Stardust for a final push. I have about 2,000 Cds ranging from classical to punk . . so never stuck for good vibes.

Prefer direct debit . . . less to think about. ;)

Currently it all starts with an idea . . .then stalking strangers on the streets of London. ;)

As a photorealistic painter I work from my own photography. So, many days are spent out on the streets photographing complete strangers . . . from a distance so they are not aware of observation and I get the “real” person.

I sketch the figure onto the canvas . . either before or after I’ve created a background.

I paint methodically . . skin first . . then I pretty much dress them doing the under layers first and finishing with the outer clothing. Hair last. Then I do it all again refining and adding depth . . . then I go over it again adding in the finest detail and adjusting areas that need a tweak. I love detail and can get lost in it for hours on end . . . I hate clutter . . . my studio is pretty spotless.

Camera, sketch book, pencils, oil paints, brushes. . . and Belgian Linen.

I was fortunate enough to meet Cuban ballet star Carlos Acosta and to do a long photo-shoot with him developing ideas. Currently working on a series of large paintings of him. I completed the first painting some weeks ago and I’m really happy with it. Feel it has lifted me a few levels.

My studio is at home . . and I give it an 8 out of 10. It I had a million, I would buy a new loft style pad and make sure the studio was 10 out of 10 . . . then go on a bender with friends I haven’t seen due to painting so much.

Leisurely breakfast with a magazine in Soho, people watching, then head off and do a few galleries. National Gallery to see Francisco de Zurbarán’s paintings then contemporary galleries with figurative/realism etc. Lunch in a good pub (people watching) followed by a walk and time with my dog in St James’s park (people watching). A bit of window shopping then either a DVD or theatre to finish off the day.

Extremely quiet studio on the 2nd floor of my home with 3 north facing windows . . . and a wonderful garden. Very central for my jaunts doing photography. Easy for everything cultural . . . this is London . . . what’s not to love?

Don’t get me started . . . . plays hell with my creativity.

“Branded”, Solo show 3rd June 2011 at the GX Gallery, 43 Denmark Hill, London, SE5, UK

Painting a series of paintings of Cuban ballet dancer Carlos Acosta. The figure is almost twice my usual size . . . challenging but rewarding work.

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