Ivan's connection with painting and the natural world began early, inspired by his grandfather’s dramatic paintings of Epping Forest in East London.

Some of Ivan's earliest memories are of magical woodland walks, from the start, painting and nature have been inseparable for him.

Ivan grew up in Norwich, Norfolk, with a love of both the arts and the outdoors. At school, his passions for Art and Theatre Studies led to a difficult decision: Art School or a Drama degree? He chose the latter, studying Drama, Film and Television at Bristol University - a path that took him into a career as a television editor, making natural history documentaries for the BBC.

In his early 30s, Ivan returned to study at Bristol School of Art, where his passion for painting was fully reignited. He later moved to Worcestershire, becoming a secondary school art teacher whilst raising his family in Malvern.

In 2018, he left full-time teaching to focus on his painting practice.