Meet The Neighbours - Raymond Usher
Raymond is an artist who loves painting scenes around North Shields. You might spot his work on the wall at Pia's Bakery, North Bank Café (Live Well With Cancer) or see it for sale at markets at the Iris Community Hub or Linskill Centre. His subjects are usually buildings and landscapes, and he regularly takes commissions from people wanting him to paint their home or favourite location.
Raymond says: “I’ve lived in Shields my whole life, went to Christ Church Primary school and I love being so close to the coast.
“My love of painting probably started when I was in high school, I used to watch Bob Ross on the TV and read a lot (maybe all) of Roald Dahl’s books. I started painting little model kits and plastic soldiers as a kid and I’ve kept painting those on and off over the years, but never did anything bigger until lockdown when for Christmas 2020 I got an oil painting set.
“I loved it right from the start and between Christmas 2020 and 2021 I finished just short of 100 oil paintings and that’s when I discovered water colours. Christmas 2022 I got my first water colour paints and started off painting some things for my own nostalgia - the Tyne Brand, Gladstone’s, Maxwell's, things that I grew up with but were now disappearing.
“I wasn’t sure anyone would like my sketchy style of ink and watercolour but soon after I started posting them on Facebook people said they loved them which gave me more confidence to keep going.
“Mostly I just love making art. I love Shields as there’s so many interesting buildings and locations around here to use as references.
“If I have one piece of advice to give it’s don’t worry about the lines being straight or the colours being in the right place. Enjoy the process and have fun that’s the main thing.”
