By Carol Davison
Photography by Lisa Young
He turned forty, the youngest of his three sons was born, there was lockdown and, as many of us did during those strange, uncertain times, he took up a new hobby, painting. Using oil paints bought as a Christmas gift from his wife, he discovered a hidden talent and within a few months found he had produced over one hundred paintings.
Four years on, Raymond is still painting and is a passionate and prolific artist. Despite this, he explains, it remains a hobby. With a young family to support, he works full time as a baker and paints at the end of a long day to relax and wind down. “I love sitting at the kitchen table and actually producing something instead of falling asleep in front of the TV.”
Raymond describes his style as ‘loose and splashed with colour’ and he is inspired by urban sketching. The tagline on his Facebook page, ‘Paintings by Raymond,’ reads, ‘The lines
don’t have to be straight and you don’t have to colour in between them’, something his young sons regularly criticise him for, he joked.
Nowadays, he primarily uses watercolours and though he experiments with painting people and flowers, he says he feels more comfortable painting houses and buildings and it is clear from his website that this is indeed his strength.
Born and bred in North Shields and still living just outside the town centre, he has a nostalgia for the old town and has lovingly captured some of the shops many of the older generation will remember fondly such as Gladstones, Maxwells and Hoults. Raymond said he was quite surprised to sell his painting of Hoults, something he just did for himself, but was persuaded to sell by a lady who contacted him to say that this was her husband’s favourite pie shop!
Due to the popularity of his paintings of local buildings, Raymond has seen a steady increase in requests for private commissions and as a result has painted houses, shops and
pubs for his clients.
Working from photographs, he is able to produce colourful A5 sized watercolours. When detailing his prices, they seem rather modest and he explains that he ‘probably’ undercharges but that he strongly believes everyone has the right to own and enjoy an original piece of art. He doesn’t want people to be ‘outpriced’ from being able to do that.
Raymond’s work is available for sale on his website and social media detailed below. It is also on display in several cafés in North Shields town centre including Pia’s Bakery, North Bank Café, Hyem and in the MAPSS community hub.
He also has links with the Iris community hub on Queen Alexandra Road where his work is displayed and where he is taking on a new endeavour next month with a painting workshop which he is running free of charge to help raise funds for the charity which aids the visually impaired.
He is hoping this will be a success and something he can take to other venues. With Raymond’s energy and enthusiasm, success will surely be guaranteed.
Instagram: @paintings_by_raymond
