Born in Nebraska and raised in Arvada, Colorado, I had a normal suburban childhood. After graduating from high school, I joined the Navy and served in the submarine service aboard the U.S.S. Permit SSN 594 (fast attack submarine). I had the experience of travelling as far north as the Aluetion Islands, and as far south as Guam and Japan.
After my 'hitch' was over I decided to stay in California. I painted at night and on weekends while I worked fulltime in the picture framing industry. I felt myself lucky in that whenever I approached a gallery for an exhibition, I was usually scheduled within a few months.
After years of making picture frames, I felt the draw of the sea again. Starting off as a bartender on a Long Beach ferry, I quickly obtained work as a crewman.
Several years later I had saved enough money to realise another dream of mine, to live in Ireland. I moved to Ireland permanently in 1997. I worked the usual jobs, (shop assistant, barman) when I happened on an ad in the paper for a crewman on a local ferry. Within a few months I had moved onto a small island in Clew Bay and was living the life I had only dreamt of. The island life could be somewhat isolated and sometimes hard, but I found a new family there and will always have a place in my heart for the people of Clare Island.
In July 0f 2000 I was working the ferry when my left leg became entangled in the rope and was severely crushed. I ended up being rushed to a local hospital. After 2 weeks and 2 operations, I was told to make a choice of countless skin graph operations to try and save the leg (which in the end wouldn't have worked because all the muscles in the leg were destroyed) or to amputate. The strangest thing to have to tell someone to cut off your leg knowing full well that they will actually do it. After a few more operations and months in the hospital with various infections I was released 'back into the wild'. Within a few months I had my first prosthetic leg and was making my way around town fairly well.
Since those early days I ride my bike, drive, kayak, run, play tag rugby and I hope to get good at rollerblading.
After years of riding the bike around, I now have a Land Rover which is modified to allow me to use the manual shift (having independence is great!).
I am a serious rugby enthusiast. Connacht Rugby is my team. A great bunch of lads. As of May of 2005 I have begun playing tag rugby myself. Rugby as a whole is a very physical sport. Tag rugby is a virtually non-contact sport (although some wouldn't always play by the rules...) being non-contact allows me to play. So keep a look out for the "Clint Westwoods" (our sponsers are The Westwood Hotel)
As for the artwork, when I first lost my leg, I did find it hard to pick up the pencil at first. That is untill one day when I was in a local bookshop and found a book by the artist P.J. Lynch. His artwork had me captivated. If you see any of his work you'll know what I mean. It was then I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. When I was having a hard time with the leg I would find solice in painting.
One of the drawings in the 'pencil page' is of a bald fella next to a bridge. I drew that when I was feeling down about ' my lot in life'. The man in the chair represents me as he stares at a man riding a bike across a bridge. I assume the cyclist is freedom of movement, and the bridge as the barrier I had to overcome.
I live in Connemara (in the west of Ireland) in a bungalow with my labrador Millie and my donkeys Harry, Laith and Dubhie. Both of the two mares are due to give birth this month and I just can't wait to see two healthy foals running around the place.
I have put 100% of my time towards artwork for children's books. I have written a children's story from Clare Island about lost love and mysterious creatures. My newest story "My Very own Pirate" deals with a handicapped child dealing with her disability with the help of her imaginary friends. 'My Very Own Pirate' will be published in 2008 by An Gum.
On the 'New Projects' page,
you can see proposed illustrations from the books.
A few years ago I was able to spend roughly 5 weeks on the set of 'King Arthur' which was being filmed here in Ireland. I was hired to play a 'woad' and a saxon. They hired several amputees to play the dead or wounded. I was to be a stunt double, but in the end I wasn't used. I only mention this for the other amputees out there who might like to get some sometimes exiting, sometimes very boring film work.
That basically brings you up to date with me. I hope you enjoy the site, feel free to contact me if you have any thoughts or suggestions.

Go Connacht Rugby!!

updated June 2007

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