The youngest of twelve children, I grew up in the thriving farming village of West Lullingfields, one of the most beautiful rural communities in Shropshire. The Union Canal brought materials and goods into the village, from places as from away as Manchester and Liverpool, for distribution to all parts of the county and beyond.

My father was a hard working man, and often worked sixteen hours a day to support his large family. He had settled in the area just before the outbreak of the Second World War, and built his business up during the hardships these times presented. My mother was a determined woman, and raised her family despite these difficulties; the farm did not have mains electricity and the only water supply was from a hand pump in the grounds of the property.

Early in my life, my mother noticed my interest in art, and, somehow, found the time to help me. I loved watching her draw, and have wonderful memories of the enjoyment I had in copying her sketches.

Later in my life, I continued to create art whenever I could, fitting it in around my own work commitments. After a long illness, I returned to my love of painting, inspired anew by my heroes Turner and Constable, amongst others. More recently, I have worked with renowned artists in Betys y Coed, Bath and Cornwall and now here in my home county of Herefordshire.

My paintings are produced under the name of “Topham”, a choice I made to recognise and give gratitude to my mother, Hilda Mary Topham for her love and support, and to her brother, my uncle, Arthur Topham, a First World War hero, who distinguished himself with acts of bravery before losing his life at the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

I regularly exhibit work in galleries around Herefordshire; to find details of past, present and upcoming events, click on the link below.