The Artist

A gift from god -
I am so grateful to receive this heavenly gift from god. The gift of creating this artwork by hand with no trick photography, just good old fashioned eye for detail and artistic flair.

My artistic skills were honed from early days, having spent many of my childhood days with a Russian painter by the name of Meir Appelboim. Meir was a lonely old Russian artist who I met through my school community activities when I was 15 years old.

Meir’s art work had a huge impact on me and I was deeply inspired by him. As time passed my family and I adopted him as a grandfather figure and we were close to him until he passed away 20 years later.

Thank you Meir for all you taught me with so much love.

I would also like to thank my Literature high-school teacher Mrs Dvora Silverstone. She was the first person to acknowledge my strength and open my heart to see my talent. I will never forget her belief in me and the sensitivity and patience she had with me. The full story of me as a child in Mrs. Silverstone's class is written in the introduction to my book - 'Living in History' (see Book page in the menu).

During my subsequent 20 year career as a hi-tech entrepreneur, my creativity and artistic skills were always at the core of my work. I was involved in companies that developed multimedia systems combining graphics, animation and visual interfaces. I was able to harness my artistic gift into practical business…just as Mrs Silverstone had helped me do back at school.

I become very emotional when I draw beautiful old houses. They are living history scattered everywhere across the English countryside. Driving along narrow country roads you can be sure that nearly every driveway you pass ends with a beautiful house with a history all of its own.

When I’m drawing a house, the fine detail of my pen work takes me on a magical journey where the history of each property is revealed with every brick and stone I immortalise. The uneven lines of the roof, walls and beams deepen this mystery. That’s why I slightly enhance these elements to bring out the warmth and personality of the houses. This Gentle Twist to Perspective is my unique style and my artistic signature. It transforms a house into a work of art that tells an ancient story.

Today, after a long worldwide journey as an IT businessman, I settled down with my family in a beautiful little village in the middle of a forest in East Sussex. Here I dedicate myself full time to my art. My passion for old and magnificent houses grows by the day. It’s fascinating to realise that – whether a person lives in an end-of-terrace, semi-detached, detached or a manor house – they are literally living in history.

"...His training by MeirAppelboim, the Russian artist, in the basic skills of art along with the important talent of perspective has helped Eli create stunning works of art..."
Art and Auctions, Sussex Life, November 2004.

"...Eli Turns back on IT to take up his brush for Art.traded in a powerful career to enjoy a more peaceful life as a painter doing beautiful paintings of people's homes and property..."
The Observer, October 2006.