Michael BISHOP

Michael Bishop's paintings in our London show were proof positive of the beauty of the London City skyline and also the way in which it is so closely interlinked with the majestic River Thames which winds its way through on its way to the North Sea
Of particular interest to riverwatchers is the state of the tide, which was at one of its lowest points when he painted the Panorama.
Noel Oddy and Laurie MacLaren 2007

His vibrant, pulsating New York show in 2003 ,demonstrated the sheer power of the colour red. In summer heat, New York's concrete canyons have that sizzling feel and etch themselves on one's memory!The New Oxford English Reference Dictionary defines red as....“of or near the colour seen at the least refracted end of the visible spectrum, of shades ranging from that of blood to pink or deep orange”. The hot greens and blues in some of Bishop's other paintings are powerful,but overall, RED is the winner. This will reach the very core of those people who re-act to these subtle tones, and we are pleased to present this outstanding, vibrant,and pulsating collection to our Highgate clientele for the first time. Noel Oddy and Laurie MacLaren 2/7/03
Copyright www.oddyart.com 2004
Statement by the artist:
“ The new urban landscapes are based on memories of my stay in New York between 1990 and 1995; they attempt to convey the feeling of early evening - being more stylised than before they have been ‘honed down’ somewhat.
I like the transitional period between day and night in the city, - lighting up time... that surreal theatrical atmosphere when the street lights are on while the sky is still light above ( Magritte’s ‘Empire of Light’ has always been a favourite of mine in this sense ).
There are also some semi-abstract landscapes inspired by cliff walks on the Isle of Wight and Dorset coasts. I particularly wanted these to communicate the bracing feeling of space and fast-changing light. Pub interiors are a new departure for me, depicting people at play in the rosey red carpeted bosom of their local, be it watching David Beckham on the big screen, going one to one with the fruit machine, or just indulging in a solitary liquid lunch.
Pub interiors have a theatrical quality, like a stage set, artificially lit and peopled by a ‘cast’ of characters. I usually select one seminal character based on an observation from a sketch or photo and the painting grows from there of its own accord as new people interact, coming and going until I think the work is finished. I normally paint directly on to the canvas, with no under drawing, onto a base colour, using acrylic paints, which dry fairly quickly. This enables the rapid reworking which the process entails.”
Michael Bishop, June, 2003

Curriculum vitae:

Born 1957, Bishop began his formal art education at Farnham Art College where he completed a one year Foundation Course.
He then attended Brighton Art College emerging from his three year course with a BA (Hons)and commenced work as an illustrator.
Clients included BMW, British Telecom, London Transport, British Airways, Observer Newspaper, Mail on Sunday, Oxford University Press, and Hugh Lauter Levin Publishers ("The Secret Garden" - Frances Hodson Burnett ).


Exhibitions (A)-London 1983-89

Association of Illustrators.
IMAGES 8 and 9

Frances Kyle Gallery, Maddox Street London:

Always Look South
Hide and Seek
Mogul Empire
Mozart
Brown Study
The Forest

(B)New York 1989 - 1995

The Gallery at the Lincoln Centre
The Lubin Collection, Spring Street
The Ambassador Gallery, Spring Street
Illustration House Spring Street

(C)United Kingdom - 1995-2003

Thompsons Gallery Dover Street London W1-Summer Show 1997
Workhouse Gallery Kings Road London Dec 1998
Courtyard Gallery Selbourne Hants.Summer Show,1999
Coombs Contemporary Art Tower Bridge Piazza, London 2001, 2002
CCA Gallery Fulham Road London Dec 2000
Tin Drum Brighton, April 2001
Society of Landscape Painters Exhibition -Mall Galleries London 2001
Advocate Galleries Wandsworth London Dec 2002
Highgate Fine Art, Highgate Village London 2003

Reviews of his work have been published in The Times,Vogue (Galleries),Architects Journal, Publishers Weekly, Artists and Illustrators, International Artist.
In 1996 he also produced a Poster for London Underground's "ART ON THE UNDERGROUND" series with the title "Downtown to Soho".

Paintings