Hello, I’m Martin Swan.

Welcome to my website. I hope you will find it enjoyable and interesting.

 The site has been designed by my nephew, Matthew – a handsome young man now living in Australia and married to a nice Australian girl called Jo. He has provided me with an administration system sufficiently simple for a Neanderthal of my caliber to operate. Thus I am able to change the content of the site without bothering him. What I can’t do is alter the fundamentals, change the look of the thing or delete certain features I no longer like or re-arrange others. For instance, I would like to have the archive section on the homepage, but I don’t know how to move it there. So it remains largely out of sight, available only via  the “Select a Category” button (top RHS). I’m waiting for him to visit me and introduce me to the fundamentals.

I have just added a  Commissions section. This is to highlight the fact that I willingly undertake commissions, should anyone ask me. Most subjects considered, in any painting medium. I can be contacted about this via the Homepage.  As I don’t normally photograph these works there are only three paintings to show.  

The big news at the moment is the birth of little Edward Kennard. Since 3.32am Monday 19th December, I have become a grandfather, albeit a step-grandfather. Born in Birmingham and weighing in at 8lb 11oz, I am told he is adorable. Mother Zoe and baby are both doing well. My wife, Melanie is there giving general assistance (knitting tiny boots and hats) while I keep things tidy here. Edward’s father is Luke Kennard, well known now as a poet, short-listed for the Forward prize a couple of years ago and short listed for lucky-xxxxxxx-of -the-year when he married Zoe a few years before that.   

I recently (actually, not so recently now) sold a picture out of the back of my car for the first time. I had just put it in the car following the close of the RSMA exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London, and had returned inside to attend the AGM. During the vice presidents report I was mercifully called away – to move my car, I supposed – to be told the gallery had just sold the picture over the phone and would I kindly remove it back inside. Brilliant. That made all 5 sold – Mr 100%. For those interested, the picture is entitled “Inner Harbour, Yarmouth”.

And that’s about it. More later. Watch out for pigs in the new year. They are coming.

 Further information. Tel 01983 530894. Email [email protected]