Despite his reclusive nature, his paintings combined sharp observations of people going about their daily lives with strong, impressionist colours and expressive brushwork.

His twin brother was posted missing in action during the failed attempt to capture the bridge at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden in September 1944.

With a serviceman's grant he enrolled at Bournemouth Teacher Training College where he received a formal education in drawing, printmaking and painting and won a scholarship to Rome.

His shyness and gentle manner made it impossible to maintain any discipline in the classroom and the only way he could keep control was to embark on painting demonstrations where he could lose himself in his work and try not to notice the pupils behind him.

In 1957 his factory scene in oils The East Sussex Engineering Co Ground Floor-Shop was included, and as one of the handful of colour reproductions, as one of the 'Young Artists of Promise' in Jack Beddington's book.

In 2011 Penlee House Art Gallery in Penzance organised an exhibition of his work alongside Bryan Pearce and Joan Gilchrist entitled 'Different Ways of Seeing'.