Ian Waddington.
Most folk call him Waddy.
Retired. Not retiring.
I'm a self-taught artist from Preston, Lancashire. I never went near an art school. I picked up a brush properly when I finished work, found out I couldn't stop, and I've been at it every day since.
I work in acrylics on canvas and board, and in pan pastels and pastel pencils. Whatever the subject asks for, really. If something needs texture I'll push modelling paste around until it looks right.
Wildlife is where I'm happiest: kingfishers, herons, big cats, next door's cockapoo. I've a soft spot for faces too, which is how the Lennon, Dylan and Bowie pieces came about. If a subject has character in it, I'll have a go.
What I work in
Acrylics
Vibrant paintings on canvas and board, from Lancashire landscapes to bold portraits.
Pastels & pencils
Delicate, detailed work in pan pastels and pastel pencils. Best for fur and feathers.
Mixed media
Modelling paste for texture, spray under acrylic, and the odd experiment that turns into something.
And when I'm not painting
You'll find me on the bank with a rod in my hand. I've fished round here all my life and a good half of the landscapes come out of those mornings: the mist coming off the docks, the light on the canal, a swan turning up when you're trying to be still.
That's why every post on the notebook ends the same way. Old habits.
Tight lines — Waddy
