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Famously there have been laughing policemen, singing fishermen’s friends, flying doctors, cowboy builders and various other workers with secondary careers – now meet the painting postman…
Darren Scott, who delivers mail to a particularly picturesque part of the Brendon Hills, in Somerset, is rapidly earning a name for himself as an artist – and he says it’s the fascinating things he sees everyday on his rounds that inspire him to bring out the brushes.
“I have the Luxborough and Roadwater round and it’s absolutely fantastic,” says Watchet-based Darren, 45. “The landscapes inspire me, definitely, but lots of small things catch my eye too.
“When you become an artist you do see things more – little things you wouldn’t normally notice. Apart from the landscape I see things like quirky gates or dead animals, for example. This morning I saw a dead rat and took a photo of it – or I’ll notice the way a tree has fallen.
“And we have real character houses around here – no lines are straight – 17th century cottages with all kinds of lines and angles. So I’ll take a photo – or I’ll do a quick sketch during a break – obviously I can’t actually stop on the round.”
Darren’s artistic abilities have so far inspired him to paint numerous pictures – some of which he’s turned into greetings cards while others have been the material for two attractive little books he’s had printed.
“Four years ago I was doing a round up in the hills and there’s a lot of wildlife up there – and I thought it would be nice to do a little book.,” he said.
To begin with it was just for me personally, but people saw it and liked it so I printed it.
“Then did my second book which is of Watchet – and now hopefully I’m on the Luxborough-Roadwater round I’ll bring another one out.
“They’re pictorial notebooks – that’s why I call them the Postman’s Sketchbook,” Darren explained. “I couldn’t really do the sketching and make the notes while working as a postman – but the idea is that they do look like I’ve simply pulled the sketchbook out of my pocket.”
Darren hasn’t always been able to pursue his love of art.
“At school I got an O-level in it, but when you leave school you have to earn some money. It wasn’t until I became a postman 13 years ago that I really took up painting. In those days you started 3.30 in the morning and had the afternoons free – and I went to a painting class.”
