MICHAEL CLARK

BIOGRAPHY

Born 1959 Ayr, Scotland.  Clark studied at The Edinburgh College of Art where Philipson, Blackadder and Houston were teaching.    After graduating in 1983 he worked as a Graphic Designer for BBC Scotland.  In 1989 he moved to London.  He designed printed textiles, art directed and painted.  London became home for 10 years.  The desire for more space to accomodate an expanding workload and family resulted in a return to Soctland in 1999 where he now lives and paints.

His work is a delicate balance between abstract and representational.  Colour is handled with passion, creating mood and form.  His paintings transmit a very direct sense of pleasure.  Influences on his work are diverse; from Redpath to Rothko.  Recent visits to France, USA and Morocco have also influenced his work.

Since returning to Scotland, Clark has exhibited at The Royal Glasgow Institute, The Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour and The Royal Scottish Academy.

As a tutor he has worked part time with students from Ayr College teaching painting and illustration techniques.

"Painting has always been important to me.  As a child it was paint that interested me, not drawing.  At school we were made to get the drawing right first and then paint.  I was always in a rush to paint.  I still get excited when I get back to the studio with fresh tubes of oil colour.  I like the romance of the medium.

I might work on up to 20 paintings at the same time.  Although the work looks fresh the paintings have evolved over several months.  Oil paint lends itself perfectly to that activity.

In my paintings there are areas that cannot be completely explained away.  The process of painting involves many layers of paint.  Sometimes I rely on memory.  Perhaps sunlight falling on a vase or a hill side.  Think of layers of paint behaving like the vibrant colours found in a piece of tweed they fuse together.

Painting can be a lonely existence I find it hard to stop working.  Some days I do not go outside.  Painters are always working, picking up ideas, little reference that may get used at a later date.  Painting is also about experience.  Subject matter is drawn from a variety of sources.  The work may be influenced by travel; the Moroccan paintings in this exhibition have been.  The possibilities of different light.  North African rather than the softer light of my country which you can see in the landscapes.

I started to paint flowers in London where I was completely spoiled for choice from velvety anemones to huge celebration bouquets.  They were always more than just flowers.  They provide colour and remind me of special days.  Colour is particularly important in my work.  Colour used to create mood; atmosphere; romance."

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2002  Bouquets at Christmas, Kelso Decorative Arts, Kelso

2001  Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh

1998  Sally Hunter Fine Art, London

1998  Chelsea Flower Show, London

1997  Chelsea Flower Show, London

1996  Sally Hunter Fine Art, London

RECENTLY SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2003 Kennox Painting Prize Finalist, Paisley Arts Institute; exhibition to be held in the Richmond Hill Gallery, London, February 2004

2003  The Jerdan Gallery, Crail

2003  Thomsons, The City, London, Scottish Show

2003  Green Gallery, Munich, Germany

2003  The Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition

2003  Glasgow Art Fair (with John Green Fine Art)

2003  Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, Londan (Green Gallery, Aberfoyle)

2003  The Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour

2002  Visual Arts Scotland, Ocean Terminal, Leith

2002  The Atholl Gallery, Dunkeld

2002  Leone Cockburn Fine Art, Edinburgh, two man show with Stephen Carruthers

2002  Green Gallery, Aberfoyle, "Cover me with Rose Petals"

2002  The Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour

2002  The Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts

PUBLISHED WORK 

1994-2003 Various greetings cards published by Woodmansterne Publications UK including gesso range

1998-2003 Wild Apple Graphics USA www.wildapple.com publish paintings as prints in open editions

1999 and 2000 "Images 23 and 24" illustrations published by Association of Illustrators

1998-2003 Work licensed to a variety of companies in the USA through Wild Apple Licensing

2002 commissioned by Lim Graphics Canada to produce work for The Liquor Board of Ontario

 

Professional Member of Visual Arts Scotland

Artists Member of Paisley Arts Institute