Hamish Blakely

Born in 1968 in Canterbury, Hamish Blakely completed his Foundation course at Wimbledon school of Art after which he graduated from Kingston University in 1990. These studies informed, what remains, a fascination with the human figure. This all began early in his childhood when, like many his age, the publications of Marvel and DC comics proved an abundant source of inspiration. He also recalls a huge, coffee table book of Norman Rockwell whose colour plates displayed a skill and imagination that seduced him, feeding his wonder and curiosity. This appetite for painting was further amplified when he attended the ‘Desiring Renoir’ Exhibition at the Hayward Gallery in London, 1985. He recalls “I was approximately seventeen and seeing the paintings up close, noticing the luxuriant, sometimes messy concoction of paint, the washes, the texture and nuance, spoke to me in a way that I found sacred and spellbinding. I just wanted to use paint and see where it would take me.” – Click to Read More