BEN HENDERSON
FINE ARTIST
&
DIGITAL ILLUSTRATOR
Hello there.
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Welcome to my online portfolio of my fine art and digital creations. Here you can find examples of my work and contact details should you wish to enquire about a specific piece, discuss a potential idea or to just say hello. My contact details are always open.
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Now, to explain a bit about how I got to today.
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I have always had an interest in art, it was one of the only subjects that I enjoyed at school. I took this to university to study Computer Games Art (3D modelling and animation) where I graduated in 2009. Since then I worked in retail for a number of years, developing my Photoshop and Illustrator skills on the side, before landing a job as a fine art consultant onboard cruise ships based out of America. I travelled the world selling art, being introduced, and influenced, by international contemporary artists and learning their techniques. This also gave me the rare opportunity to sell masters work like Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Francisco Goya, Rembrandt, Dali and Chagall. As I said, I always liked art but this developed a passion. When travelling when working or on my holidays I would go a visit any gallery that is near that port, town or city that I'd land in, to see what they have. When working, I would stare at different artist's work at a variety of stages of their careers, currently working or passed away and discuss them with prospective buyers. I could talk easily to people and loved the relationships to people but I wasn't truly selling them, I was blabbing on about things I loved and generating so many ideas for things I wanted to try when I got home and in front of a canvas.
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The desire to develop would have a baring on my decision to leave ships so that I could do all the things that come with days off and your own space, which included time (and resources) to paint. I moved to Leeds and worked for 2 years at Whitewall Galleries and then a further year at the Biscuit Factory in Newcastle, closer to home in the North East. I found myself with a lot to share and wanting a new challenge and embarked on a career in teaching Art and DT, where I still am today.​
On...
My art style has developed significantly over the years and in what feels like a short period of time. I enjoy being expressive with my paint and not limiting myself to a particular theme. I want to be inventive too, experimenting with broken glass for a short time and once bored with the usual rectangles and square canvases I started to recycle old pallet wood. The grain, textures, splits, uneven edges and limitless 'canvas' shapes gave countless opportunities to explore. So I did. The natural and unpredictable wood grain was inspiring and in search for opportunities to develop this, I came across old whiskey cask lids. The smell, solid oak, years of wear and tear were evident and after a quick brush down revealed beautiful surfaces each with a story to tell. Basically, I love painting and it turned out I really liked building things as well.
Of...
My subject matter ranges from animal portraits to surreal figures. I don't like to limit myself to one. I take commissions, usually pet portraits, though have taken on landscapes and icons at request. I am having fun with my figurative style at the moment, each elongated and their face covered in one way or another adding a sense of mystery. This is allowing me to just be myself, show my personality and ultimately just do what I want, not what I feel I should.
Digitised...
My digital illustrations have been been fast tracked over the last year or two since being recruited as a free lance Digital Illustrator by Matthew Henderson Creative Solutions. If you read the part above (and bravo for putting up with my waffle for so long) you would have noticed that my degree was in digital art which was on a slow boil over the years since whilst making sure to keep my skills up to date. The process is detailed in the Illustration section of my page but essentially if you want illustrations for personalised products or any of your ideas/needs I am happy to discuss this. We would typically discuss and design a brief curated to your requirements, I create this in a combination of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and Fresco and once done, you keep them to use however you see fit. If you want the all inclusive service, I would put you in touch with Matthew, who has over a decade worth of experience in the retail sector, who would fully design your whole project, giving expert advice and guidance, I would create the illustrations and Anya, a specialised graphic designer, would layout all of your work on any packaging or product that you would desire. We would be in discussion with you at each step of the way, making sure that you get exactly what you're after.
Say Hello...
My contacts are always open. Please do get in touch with whatever you like as I would be more than happy to hear from you.
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Contact details at the bottom :)
FINE ART RELATED
Acrylic / Spray Paint / Mixed Media / Figurative / Surreal / Animal / Commissions / Contemporary / Whiskey Barrel Lids / Reclaimed Wood / Canvas
IlLUSTRATion CLIENTS
Black Country Living Museum / Durham Cathedral / Alnwick Gardens / Hopetown Darlington / Durham Museum Trust / Big Pit Wales / Brockhole Windermere