Mike Bernard RI
My initial starting point is to collect on the spot sketches, subjects will vary from harbour coastal scenes to street and market scenes and occasional still lifes. I am selective when describing detail, I want to portray only the essence of the subject. Back in the studio I start my paintings, (surfaces can include, paper, board and canvas), with layers of paper collage, newspapers, tissue, leaflets, magazines etc, glueing with acrylic medium. I create shapes which relate to the abstract structure of the subject.
When the glue is dry, I apply acrylic ink in bold random strokes which encourages wonderful colour and textural ‘happy accidents’. From this state of chaos I endeavour to definite the subject through various drawing techniques, to a finished stage where the subject has recognizable passages, but at the same time retain a semi- abstract, impressionistic feel, engaging the viewers imagination.
Training
1974 – 75: Foundation Medway College of Art and Design.
1975 – 78: BA Hons in Fine Art West Surrey College of Art and Design.
1978 – 81: Post Graduate Studies Royal Academy Schools, London. Year 1997 Elected to the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours.
Teaching
1980 – 1999 : Farnham Adult Education Institute.
1980 – 1984: South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell.
1981: West Surrey College of Art and Design.
1981: Treloar College, Alton.
1981 – 1996: Southampton Institute of Higher Education.
1983 – 2000: Private Painting Courses.
Solo Exhibitions from 1999
Years 1999 John Blockley Gallery, Stow on the Wold.
Years 2000 Brian Sinfield Gallery, Burford.
2001
Years 2002 River Fowey Gallery, Fowey, Cornwall
Years 2002 David Curzon Gallery, Wimbledon.
2004
Years 2004 Marine House at Beer, Devon.
2005
2007
2008
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2016
Years 2003 Broadway Modern, Broadway.
2005
2007
2010
2011
2012
2014
Years 2006 Walker Gallery, Harrogate.
2009
2013
2016
Years 2007 Linda Blackstone Gallery, Pinner.
Years 2007 Rowley Contemporary Art , Winchester.
Years 2008 Oakham Gallery, St James, London.
2010
Years 2009 Panter & Hall Mayfair
2011
2012
2015
2017
Years 2012 Bath Fine Art, Bath
2015
Years 2013 Fowey River Gallery, Fowey, Cornwall
2015
2017
Years 2017 Wimbledon Fine Art
Group Exhibitions (not limited to)
R I Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London.
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London.
Art Fairs in London, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore.
Awards
Elizabeth Greenshields Fellowship 1981 and 1987 (Royal Academy)
David Murray Studentship 1978/80/81 (Royal Academy)
1st Prize Stowells Trophy 1981 (Royal Academy)
British Institute Prize (Royal Academy)
Lanseer Prize (Royal Academy)
Highly Commended Award 1990 Silver Longboat Exhibition, Portsmouth City Art Gallery.
Laing Landscape Painting Award 1993
R. I. Exhibition Mall Galleries London:
Kingsmead Gallery Award 1999
Stuart Defries Award 2003
Lincoln Joyce Gallery Award 2007
The Ranelagh Press Award RI 2009
Dry Red Press Award 2018
Publications
“Experimental Coasts in Mixed Media“ published by Batsford
“Collage, Colour and Texture in Painting” by Mike Bernard & Robin Capon Published 2010
Artist Magazine
International Artist
Leisure Painter
Artists and Illustrators Magazine
Draw and Paint
Included in numerous books and articles
