They say New York is a city of eight million stories. Ours began on a crisp morning at Peck Slip School, where two kids' friendship would weave together families, art dreams, and a portrait that would capture it all.
Landing in the Big Apple
With Vanessa and our boys Elvis and Kaspar, we dove headfirst into life in New York. The New York Academy of Art in Tribeca became my second home, where I found myself studying under some of the most influential figures in contemporary art. Vincent Desiderio, Michael Grimaldi, Amaya Gurpide, and Wade Schuman weren't just names on a faculty list - they became mentors who pushed my portrait painting studies in directions I never imagined possible.
Life's Unexpected Turns
But you know how life throws you curveballs? Between juggling classes and getting sick, there were moments when the dream felt like it was slipping through my fingers. The financial strain started weighing heavy on our shoulders, and in the end, we had to make that heart-wrenching decision to head back home earlier than planned. Funny thing is, those challenges ended up making our New York chapter even more precious.
The School That Changed Everything
Between my art classes, Elvis started at Peck Slip School in Battery Park - and that's where everything changed. There at the school gates, we met Danielle and Marc, whose daughter PK had become fast friends with Elvis. Those daily pick-ups and drop-offs in the Seaport district turned into something special - the kind of friendship that would outlast our time in the city.
New York Moments
Life became this collection of moments that still make us laugh - me wrestling enormous paintings onto packed subways between Battery Park and Tribeca, watching the boys experience their first real blizzard, and all of us attempting to eat those comically huge slices of pizza in Hoboken. And that freezing day at the Empire State Building? -40 with wind chill, our fingers practically frozen as we tried to snap photos - now that was a proper New York winter baptism!
Building Community
The community we found went beyond just friendship. Those nights of 'free pour' (if you know, you know!) became legendary stories we now share with clear heads and sober smiles, each memory a reminder of how completely we embraced our New York adventure.
The Portrait That Brought It Full Circle
When financial realities finally pulled us back to the UK, Danielle shared a photo of PK with me. Creating her portrait wasn't just another painting - it was a chance to capture all those intertwined memories, those precious Seaport and Battery Park days, and the friendship that had grown between our families. Each brushstroke became a thank you note to the city and friends who'd changed us forever.
Coming Full Circle
While the scholarship year and my studies ended sooner than we'd hoped, it gave us something far more valuable than just artistic training. It gave us lifelong friends, unforgettable memories, and the kind of experiences that shape not just an artist's work, but a family's story. Looking back now, I realise that sometimes the best art comes from life itself - from the unexpected friendships, the challenges overcome, and the beautiful moments shared in between.
That portrait of PK now hangs in Marc and Danielle's home (they're still in New York!), a reminder that the best things in life often start with something as simple as two kids meeting at school, and parents saying hello at pickup time. It's a testament to how art can capture not just a moment, but the whole beautiful web of connections that make life rich and meaningful.
That unfinished year at the New York Academy of Art (www.nyaa.edu) still calls to me. One day, I hope to return and complete my Fine Art Master's degree, to walk those paint-scented halls in Tribeca again. But even unfinished, those months shaped my work and life in ways I never expected. Sometimes the greatest masterpieces aren't the ones we paint - they're the stories left with blank spaces, waiting for their final brushstrokes.
If you'd like to see how my time in New York influenced my art, or to explore more of my work, visit my portrait gallery here. I’d love to share more of my journey and creations with you.
