I have been clearing out my room (this seems to be a permanent occupation) and recycling old schoolwork, university work, articles, and old drawings and stories by me that just aren’t worth keeping anymore. While doing that, I found these: Peter, my family’s first budgie.

Oliver and Twist were our third and fourth budgies (of many more … ) and were brothers.

Most of my drawings from high school art are not great; I was very timid with mark-making. However, about ten years ago I had my first life drawing classes and my drawing rapidly improved. Then for some reason I gave up art as a subject, and then pretty much stopped drawing entirely for four years. These drawings were not done after that period, and I’m almost certain they wouldn’t have been drawn within that time. I think, then, that these were sketched from photographs during the time I was taking life drawing classes at school. There’s a confidence in the lines that I think I’ve only gained back recently – what a shame! I’d be pleased if I drew these now!