How about Elton Hayes for an English guitar player who was around before the folk scare of the sixties? It's all a long time ago but I don't remember him as someone influenced by the Americans.

Will, not wishing to pick an argument but are you sure about Steve's influence on Graham? I knew Steve quite well and worked with with him (not as a picker except at parties)) and I don't recall him doing any finger picking. That doesn't of course mean that he wasn't able to. Also as I mentioned above it was all a long time ago.

Regarding lack of finger pickers as opposed to "thrashers" among buskers, does it ever occur to you Dick that trying to attract people's attention with quiet subtle finger picking might be like flogging a dead horse among a crowd.

As you rightly say Will It's a real mix in he UK.