Every now and again my family has produced a painter. Notably my great great great grandfather, William Kilburn (1745-1818), who was a principal illustrator for William Curtis' Flora Londinensis, rare complete copies of which occasionally surface. He also became in his time the pre-eminent designer and printer of calico in Western Europe and some 220 original water colour designs for this work form the 'Kilburn Album', which is one of the treasures of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It is inspiring and may be seen by prior appointment.

Antirrhinum Cymbalaria - William Kilburn for Curtis' Flora Londinensis

Design for Calico - William Kilburn at The Victoria and Albert Museum

Design for Calico - William Kilburn at The Victoria and Albert Museum

Primula Vulgaris - William Kilburn at The Natural History Museum

My own efforts derive from a start which was both late and self-taught, influenced by Impressionists on both sides of the Channel and by those gifted landscape artists, Edward Seago and Sir John Arnesby Brown. These two will be icons for 20th century British art long after modern publicity seeking froth has been forgotten. In fact, over time, I have been fortunate enough to acquire seven of their paintings to pass on down in due course to succeeding generations.

Although I held early sell-out one-man exhibitions in Norfolk and London I was not able to give Art the attention it deserved if it was to become a full time occupation. After travelling the world in business for many years it was not until I founded The New Forest Badger Watch, (www.badgerwatch.co.uk) in the latter half of our 23 years of living in a haven of nature in Hampshire, that it became possible to give more time to painting.

More recently we have retired to the peace and beauty of a very special part of France with a landscape and architectural heritage which offer endless artistic temptation.