I'd always been drawing - and loved drawing comics.  After a year at Croydon Art College and three at Wimbledon School of Art
 I freelanced for a few years before taking an alternative - and unexpected career path - as a restaurateur!  First running a huge Hard Rock style diner serving the best cocktails, steaks and homemade burgers in town, to a petite parisienne bistro - both with very little time to draw.  Although I did manage to attend a Saturday morning life drawing class fairly regularly for a few years - what a godsend. 
Over twenty years on we sold up, moved to Norfolk, and converting an old brick cart shed 
into a studio - I finally went back to the drawing board.