Getting to the top

This drawing is a light-hearted look at getting to the ”top”
which to most of us means happiness
or at least the wherewithal to be happy
Work is usually needed but
there are many ways of getting up
You could get a job in a large organisation
as represented here
by a pyramid of people
lots of rising levels but
only room for one at the top
Or join an organisation
where duration of employment
allows access to the top – one step at a time
represented here by ladders
Why not create a Partnership
Two or more can join together
and help each other up
represented here by three people
and a pulley system
Perhaps a son following a father to the next level
pulled up by workers
Invent something and let “It”
take you to the top!
Or start your own business
represented here by the person wearing suction cups
(Not just a good idea but lots of hard work as well)
Be catapulted to the top
Win the lottery or become a Film/Pop Star
Fight your way up with hard work and dedication
be a sports person represented here as a rock climber
some even carry hangers-on
family/Coach get a free ride!
Others fight alone
Some are born at the top represented here
by the helicopter of a self-made man
depositing his children at the top
or by a pregnant woman
representing Family Wealth/Royalty
Inevitably some fall by the wayside
thru’ tiredness or accident
Bribery is not uncommon,
jumping the queue, blackmail,
extortion even murders do happen!
But break the law and you will get caught
– eventually –
as is the person with his back to the wall
people asking questions
and waving papers at him!
Others stay on the ground always only
planning what to do……..some day……soon
Often when a comfortable level is found
people stop and stay there
Some people even decide that the top
is not where they want to be
There are more important things in life
than success or wealth
Remember
If you spend your life working to attain
or maintain wealth/success and fail
or even if you succeed
When do you enjoy life?
Was it worth it?
Don’t forget – work does not stop
when you get to the top
Staying up there
becomes the problem
Of course for some it is the “climb”
which makes them happy!!!
1/2 Price ALL unframed large prints 3 to 10 May 2023

550mm x 450mm – Large – 1997
Limited Edition Print 1/500
Signed and numbered
The original pen and ink drawing is also available

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The Four Seasons set of 4

Spring
In spring everyone wakes up those in the topsoil uncurl themselves and move down to the subsoil and join others there who are waking up from their winter sleep.
Together they start moving up through the roots – into the trunk and steadily up through the branches
to form tiny new baby leaves
Momentum is building up
for the rush of summer

Summer
In Summer activity is frantic – Everyone is awake and full of energy
The new leaves made in spring grow quickly
Movement from the topsoil to the subsoil is hurried
as they join long queues waiting impatiently to get into the roots
movement up though the trunk and the branches is fast and excited
The leaves on the branches quickly reach maturity

Autumn
In Autumn the mature leaves of summer turn colour and begin to fall
They join those already in the topsoil and begin settling themselves into place for winter
Movement from the topsoilis slow – almost stopped
Nearly all energy is spent.
Most of those in the subsoil
are getting ready to sleep
while the few entering the roots and those already in the trunk and the branches are preparing for winter
There is little movement
except for leaves falling…..

Winter
Winter – All the branches are bare
The leaves which fell in Autumn have settled into the topsoil
the subsoil is asleep
All movement has stopped
Those in the roots, trunk and branches prepare for the long cold winter
by wrapping their arms around themselves and huddling together
Everyone waits for Spring

Set of 4 – 45x64cm Large – Limited Editions 1/250
1996
Limited Edition Print 1/250
Signed and numbered –
Matching Edition Numbers – 14 Sets left
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Come on Ireland

If you haven’t entered the gates
as one of forty five thousand!!
If you haven’t climbed the terraces
with huge excitement and expectation
If you haven’t swayed as one with the crowd
each time Ireland, again, win the ball
or roared in utter jubilation
as they score once more!
If you haven’t shouted “Come on Ireland”
when your team could actually hear you
If you haven’t filed down the steps
again brimming over with pride
at your country’s finest performance
whether win or draw or even loose!
If you haven’t
Then you can’t imagine what it feels like
to be a part of a crowd – like this!!

©
550mm x 450mm – Large – 2004
Limited Edition Print 1/500
Signed and numbered
THE PEN AND INK ORIGINAL DRAWING OF THIS IMAGE IS ALSO AVAILABLE
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If I only had time

Not only would I save the Whale (27)
Recycle everything (33)
and grow my own vegetables (15)
But it always seems to be “Time”
or the lack of it which prevents me
from doing these worthwhile things
which make a difference to my
environment and that of my children.
My “Quality of life”
and that of others around me
is neglected because
I do not have enough time
To begin with for myself:
I would learn Yoga  (34)
take better care of my body (17)
and learn to play the piano (35)
For those around us – How often do we say?
“I’ll call in and see you soon”
“We must get together next week” (22)
or
“The children don’t know their own cousins!”
We are free, we can choose
Perhaps it  is time to look differently
at how we spend our “Time”
and to make conscious decisions about
how to spend it
instead of constantly saying
“If I only had time………………..

Please see Full words image for the rest…:-)

550mm x 450mm – Large – Limited Edition 1/500 – 1998
Limited Edition Print 1/500
Signed and numbered
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The Party

All your best friends
a selection of strangers for variety
loads of good food, drink and powerful music
Put them all in a large house
and
you should have a Great Party

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THE CHALLENGE

Mankind has always loved a challenge
Ever since he won the fight for survival
thousands of years ago
he has sought to replace
the instinctive need to fight – to win!
Throughout all areas of our world
the strongest will survive
games were invented to test the mind
and competitions for physical supremacy
exist within all civilisations
from the beginning of time
Our games and competitions
are just different
So if you want to race down a mountain
faster than anyone else
Make your first million
by the time you are thirty
Be the first to climb the highest mountain
or conquer the roughest sea
If you want to spend your life
in the seemingly impossible search for
a cure to disease
or if you just want to play
one round of perfect golf!
Relax and enjoy the challenge
and remember you are only obeying
a natural instinct ………!

©
Limited Edition Print
1/950
2001 

Signed & Numbered by the artist
The words are also written on the back of the picture
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Practice makes perfect

You climb into one of the cannons
You get shot across the ravine
And hope to fly straight through
the ”Opening” which represents “Success”
On the other side are all your dreams and aspirations
You may be lucky first time
but if you fail you go splat against the rock face!
and fall down to the ground
– now –
if you really want to succeed
you pick yourself up and try again
and again and again  …….
until with enough practice you will achieve your goal
Practice does make perfect

©
Limited Edition Print
1/500
2001
Signed & Numbered by the artist
The words are also written on the back of the pict
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One moment in time

If Mankind is all people who ever existed
Then this drawing is meant to be a cross section
thru’ mankind at One Moment in Time
The Map has three parts
The Outside Edge – The Middle – The Inside Edge

The Outside Edge – is made up of people who have made a difference to our Physical world
For example – Someone – at one moment in time must have been the first to make Fire and there WAS a day when the first wheel turned – In our own era the atom was split and telecommunications have reached such a level of sophistication that the vast pool of mankind’s knowledge is now readily available to all people everywhere
The Middle – is made up of those milloins of us who exist and only add
our unique personal experiences to the knowledge
The Inside Edge – Is made up of those who shape our Psychic world:-
What we believe – what we like – what makes us happy or afraid
Here the contributors include- Religious Leaders – Great Thinkers – Writers – Artists – Muscisians

My Grandmother was alive before the first telephone was brought to her villiage – she died in the spring of 2000 having seen monumental changes both in what we believe to be truth
and what we can do with the physical knowledge we have gained
This map is to remind us that if you take the development of mankind as a series of steps
Then the difference between mankind’s first ever step and where we are today
Is so immense that what is yet to come is……………………….?

©
Limited Edition Print
1/500

2001
Signed & Numbered by the artist
The words are also written on the back of the pict

THE ORIGINAL PEN AND INK DRAWING OF THIS IMAGE IS ALSO AVAILABLE
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The Maze

The walls of the maze represent
the restrictions we as a society put on ourselves
You could pick up a knife and kill the next person you meet
– there is no actual barrier – yet you do not
The centre of the maze represents “happiness”
as we move through life we strive for happiness
Our requirements are different and
can be as simple as not to be hungry tomorrow
or as complex as the need to own
one more conglomerate
The four entrances to the maze:-
only one of which leads to the centre
represent the different opportunities
and choices available to us
Some people are born to happiness –
They start at the correct entrance and proceed with ease to the centre
Some work for it
They start at one of the dead ends
and have to work their way through one or all
of the dead ends before finally arriving at the centre
Some have it and loose it – They reach the centre
but turn back and end up in a dead end
Some never attain happiness but spend their lives
going from one dead end to the next
So strive to realise your dreams
whatever they may be
and always remember Life is for living
and the real secret is
to know when you are happy

©
Limited Edition Print
1/500
2002 
Signed & Numbered by the artist
The words are also written on the back of the pict
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Life is amazing

In this drawing
the first archway is creation
a new baby is born
The ‘Free Personal Choice Umbrella’
is to allow parents to choose
what they teach their child
The next four archers
represent what a child learns
while growing up:-
Morals and Manners
Religion or way of Life
Formal Education
Survival skills
The changing Weather conditions represent
the the trials and tribulations of living
The ‘Parents letting go area’ is next
and then…….
The Self-sufficient Stamp proves
readiness to go on alone
Where the platform stops
is our place in ‘Life’
What is amazing is that each of us is unique,
each one of us is special and
there is a place in ‘Life’
for every one of us
The ‘Stork Special Bus’
which brought our parents here
now returns them to their own
place in ‘Life’
and
We start the adventure that is ‘Life’
………. amazing!

 

©
Limited Edition Print
1/500
2004
Signed & Numbered by the artist
The words are also written on the back of the pict
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Freedom

This drawing was done during the time of change in Eastern Europe.
The shell represents repression or communism
When it breaks down, the resultant outpouring of people,
Their attempts to stabilise what is left of their nation by using the broken pieces of shell,
which represent what’s left of administrative and social structures
While helping each other out of the shell some organise, some work, some just enjoy
They then go along to the next nation and start breaking it’s shell
(Apartheid, South Africa 1994?)
The ladder represents the formation of organisations such as Solidarity
and there are even two UN observers, bottom left

©
Limited Edition Print
1/100
1994 
Signed & Numbered by the artist
The words are also written on the back of the pict
ORIGINAL DRAWING ALSO AVAILABLE
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