about me

After Grammar School, where my main interest was rugby, I spent a gap-time at sea as a Cadet Navigating Officer in the British Merchant Navy before going on to university to train for my career as a Civil Engineer, eventually becoming a Director in the Public Service.

In 1999 my principal occupation changed and I became a professional artist, in which I have had modest success with some work shown in Mayfair galleries. Over the last eight years I have also preyed on unsuspecting audiences as a crooner, singing 1930's Sinatra classics in cabaret and at dinner dances etc.

This year (2010) I published my first novel 'The Hitler Canvas.' Not surprisingly the main character is an artist, a singer and a former seafarer. I also paint my own book cover illustrations. There is now another novel going through the foetid process of gestation on my computer.

My wife and I live in an English village and we became an item in 1968. We have two children and, so far, two grandchildren. I hope you enjoy having a look at my books. The background to my book 'The Hitler Canvas' is on my web-site below, together with some of my paintings and sound-bites from my cabaret act.

favourite books

I mainly like books with vitality, a purposeful plot and a positive feel - principally well crafted action and adventure, by authors such as Frederick Forsyth, Conn Iggulden, Patrick O'Brian, C. S. Forester, Bernard Cornwell.

For sheer style, I particularly enjoy James Lee Burke - reading his work creates an almost audible musical cadence in my mind's ear.

my websites

http://ianconway.biz