Exploring Urban Landscapes in Large Paintings

New York Zebra

People often ask me how I paint massive cityscapes of New York when I'm a self-taught lad straight out of Yorkshire who has never actually set foot in the Big Apple. The truth is, art isn't about booking a plane ticket, it's about the feeling.

There is an incredible raw energy to a place like New York that you can see and feel through photos, film, and imagination. With this large acrylic piece , which I affectionately call the "New York Zebra" style , I wanted to capture the stark, striking contrast of towering urban architecture against the vibrant, relentless pulse of the city.

As a self-taught artist working from the shed, I rely entirely on instinct, texture, and bold strokes rather than formal textbook techniques. Painting large-scale urban landscapes lets you throw yourself into the canvas and build up layers until you can almost hear the yellow cabs and bustling streets.

You don't need to live in a metropolis to paint one; you just need to feel the rhythm of it. Have a look at the detail shots, and let me know what you think in the comments!

New York Zebra