The Back Story 2/2

The Japanese Connection

In the mid 1950's my father went to Japan with several colleagues from Shell, the petrochemical company. I was never sure exactly what he was doing but as a specialist in the catalytic cracking technology Shell sed to make ethylene I believe he was helping re-establish Japan's industry after the war.

He came home after spending nearly a year there with some souvenirs which included a hand painted Satsuma ware dining service and several watercolours. These are the only things I kept from his estate after he died some years ago.

While these things have not directly influenced my art, I've not copied them in any way for example, or even set out deliberately to make a Japanese "thing". However  there obviously has been some indirect influence into my work. It is not uncommon for people to comment "that's very Japanese looking"