In addition to painting and my work I have other interests, which I would like to share with you. These other interests have been the inspiration for some of my past works and I am sure they will continue to be in the future. In all that I do I pride myself in having "an eye for detail", an important aspect of science and my own preferred artistic style, which is also reflected in my interets and hobbies.
Collecting
As a young boy at school I begain to collect bubble gum cards and stamps, but my real passion was for Militaria. Growing up in the 1960's gas masks and Tin helmets were still being found in the lofts of old houses and antique shops were full of medals, badges and cloth insignia.
My Grandfather served with the 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles from 1933 to the end of the war and so my collection of militaria centres around the "Rifles". The photograph shows a small selection of my "treasures"; in the middle is a silk band banner, the two journals are from 1928 and 1944, there is a photograph of the 2nd Battalion band given to me by one of the members, a rifle green field service (FS) cap (as worn by members of the band) and a FS cap which was worn during the early part of World War 2.
The photograph opposite was taken during my recent visit to the Royal Ulster Rifles Museum, in January 2009. The Museum can be found at 5 Waring Street, Belfast.
Living History
Looking back, Steven Spielberg's film "Saving Private Ryan" was one of the first influences with respect to my interest in "Living History". I remember leaving the cinema thinking about my Grandfather and what he must have gone through at Dunkirk and during the Overlord landings and the liberation of North Western Europe. It inspired me to find out more and so I began to research the 2nd Battalion's involvement. It was therefore no surprise that I eventually joined a group that portrays the 2nd Battalion RUR. My involvement is therefore a personal one. I do not encourage the myths that glorify war, my aim is to draw attention to the fact that my Grandfather and his comrades "went to Hell and back" to protect their families and preserve what we have today.
"Royal Ulster Rifleman"
(18cm x 21cm)
This is a portrait in soft pastels of my Grandfather, John Mcmillan, taken from a small black and white photograph.
It is important for me to be as authentic as possible. In the photograph all the battle insignia is original. Because I am tall, it was difficult to find an original Battledress, but the one that I purchased from Steve Kiddle at Pegasus Militaria is accurate in every detail to an original one.