2nd February to 23rd February 2013 'Done & Dusted' Red House Museum, Christchurch, Dorset. Through the painting of George Popesco and film maker Mike Latto, this exhibition tells the story of local street cleaner Mike Gearing. The show engages and focuses attention to the content of a portrait, it's content and relation to the subject/sitter.

Film by Mike Latto

UK based artist

Education

MA Fine Art, The Royal Academy of Art, London

BA Fine Art, West Surrey College of Art

Personal Statement / Bio

My work is from direct observation, painting in response to objects, environments, the human form and portrait. The immediacy of nature and its recording through the transience of flowers or landscape are contrasted by still like subjects, which are carefully arranged with an emphasis to the objects possible associated contexts. The analysis of a subject through looking and painting is a personal reflection and engagement, utilising the visual elements to achieve a personal aesthetic statement

Since completing my academic training at the Royal Academy Schools London, I have taught extensively in varied Art & Design education structures alongside developing my own work and exhibiting both in group and solo exhibitions. I live and work in Dorset, I specialise in Oil Colour medium exploiting its tactile wet in wet qualities to form the mediums expressive and sculptural qualities.

London group exhibitions include BP Award, National Portrait Gallery, RA Summer Show, Mall Galleries and the Hyde Park Gallery. Solo exhibitions at both, Chertsey Museum, Surrey and Christchurch Red House Museum, Dorset.

Working Process & Teaching 

My working processes are influenced from the Baroque portrait and still life traditions, through French Classicism and Realism to twentieth century Modernism. I have a very structured approach to my teaching practice, careful to plan every stage of development whilst supporting individual students on a one to one basis. Essential to the learning process is live demonstration, whereby, techniques are revealed stage by stage, informing experimentation to complete the set task.