Where do these images come from? He had a perfectly normal childhood – born in the USA, immigrant to the UK, lived in a caravan, holidays to visit strange Bavarian friends who lived in a chalet in the Forest, camping on mountainsides, usual boys stuff – forts, guns (real), steam engines, sister who beat him up until he got too big, but also rescued him from children’s parties until he discovered girls and didn’t need to be rescued, sent to horrible school (boarding) when 10, sent to lovely Quaker / Co-ed / Vegetarian school next / learnt to play trumpet (?) then saxophone / always drawing / he did have a Grass snake I think – snakes do seem a big part of his imagery as do women / boats / beaks & bills / fish /  eyes /water / noses / horns / hands & hats. Must also mention colour blind and left handed – when you see these extraordinary works close up the intricate detail is quite amazing – thin, thin ink lines delicately embroidering over the paper.