Chuck Jones

I've always loved the Warner Brother's shorts and admired the work of Director's such as Chuck Jones and Tex Avery. The characterisation and timing in those shorts are spot on. My favourite are the Road Runner shorts, but I also like Bugs, Daffy and the rest of the gang.
While I was at Film School I was looking forward to meeting Chuck Jones at The Cambridge Animation Festival in 1985. Unfortunately I wasn't very well so was unable to make it, but my friends at Film School kindly asked him to sign me a couple of get well wishes!

I then wrote to Chuck Jones and asked him if he would be so kind as to draw me a Bugs Bunny and to write on it. "Animation is long, life is short" Which was a saying my Lecturer was always saying. Chuck sent me back a Bugs Bunny drawing and wrote on it "Animation is life, life is only short if you make it so" Which is wise words indeed!

Then in 1992 I finally got the chance to meet Chuck Jones as he visited The Dave Edwards Animation Studio, Cardiff, Wales, UK where I was working at that time. Chuck was a guest at the Cardiff Animation Festival.

Chuck Jones at Dave Edwards Animation Studio, Cardiff, Wales, UK 1992

Then in 1995 my ultimate dream came true when I animated on his Emmy Award winning film ~ "Chuck Jones Peter And The Wolf" which was being animated at Cosgrove Hall Films Ltd, Manchester, UK.

Disney Fan

Since I can remember I have been a huge fan of Walt Disney Animation especially the feature films.
My favourite film is "Pinocchio" I'm still amazed at the artistry and craftmanship that went into creating that film and to think it was made in 1940. Another favourite is "The Jungle Book" a simple story with great character animation. Of the second golden age of Disney animation I love "The Little Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast", and most recently "The Princess and the Frog" Disney's return to hand drawn animation.... and long may it continue!
I have been lucky enough to meet three of Walt Disney's original "Nine Old Men" Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, and Marc Davis at two different Animation art exhibitions at an Animation Gallery in London, England.
Here is a photo of myself with Frank Thomas.

Here is a photo of myself with Marc Davis.

Welcome to my Blog!

Hello and welcome to my Blog which will be a companion to my main animation website.
Here I will be able to post my thoughts, drawings, photo's, videos on all things animated!
I have been working as a professional animator for 25 years now....wow that's a long time!
I became interested in making animated films at the tender age of 13, experimenting with a super 8mm camera, firstly with stop motion plasticine characters and then as my interest in drawing developed I began producing 2D drawn animation and have continued to do so ever since!
Around this time I watched a tv documentary on Richard Williams and his work was so inspiring I decided I had to become an animator! I visited his studio in 1983 when I was 18 and he gave me some wonderful advice DRAW! DRAW! DRAW!
Here is a photo of Richard Williams and myself at one of his masterclass lectures.