Painter, especially of the East Anglian landscape, and teacher, born in Essex, son of the artist Cyril Deakins, growing up at Duton Hill, near Dunmow. Gained a fine art honours degree at Newcastle Polytechnic, 1980, then an art teacher’s certificate, Leeds Polytechnic, 1982. Taught full-time from 1982–4, then part-time 1984–91, at Felstead, Essex. Mixed exhibitions included RA Summer Exhibitions from 1983; from 1984 at ROI, where he was several times a finalist in the Winsor and Newton Young Artists Award; 1988 onwards at Fry Gallery in Saffron Walden; and in 1992 at Khoetsu Fine Art, Tokyo. Had a solo exhibition at Medici Gallery, 1989; William Hardie, Glasgow, 1991; and Chappel Galleries, Chappel, 2000. Year before was elected chairman of Dunmow Art Group.