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Tony Taylor was born in Surrey, worked in banking in London and the South-East, and came to Guernsey in 1973, where he took a job in a local bank.

During his banking career, Tony had little time to paint. But when he could, he used to practice in what he called "the easier medium of oil-painting". He only took up watercolour painting when he retired, and taught himself the techniques from library books and watercolour classes.

Tony with his painting of Fort Grey

Tony enrolled on a painting course at the College of Further Education, and was surprised when he was asked to take over the class after three weeks! He kept these classes going for three years before branching out and teaching his own courses.

Tony said painting with watercolours is "totally, totally different" to using oil paints. He described watercolour as a "very unforgiving subject", as the paper must be kept wet at all times. When painting outside, the wind and sun can make this very difficult.

He said "I love painting landscapes, and in Guernsey, obviously, seascapes" and explained how he prefers painting low water to high water, as there is more colour in the sand and sea in low water conditions.

There is plenty in Guernsey to keep him motivated: "It's sometimes difficult to find, perhaps, a different scene, but you can always get a different mood on the same scene".

One of Tony's landscape paintings

His favourite locations in Guernsey are Bordeaux and Portelet and he has painted both places a number of times.

Tony runs watercolour courses in Guernsey, and has done for around eight years. He also runs watercolour holidays, for which he brings people to Guernsey for five nights, and gives them four days tuition. He chooses the locations carefully, always bearing in mind the need to find a good lunch!

Tony's work is currently on display at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital in Guernsey until 30 September 2009.