The Strata from Borough High Street. Oil, 36 × 20 cm, 14 × 8 inches £950.jpg

Artist Statement

"I draw and paint directly from life, both in the studio and outside. Working in this way results in marks that are reactive, and for me, it is the best way to capture what it feels like to be with the subject. I also create much larger studio paintings based on small plein air studies. In these I try to recreate the energy and atmosphere of the smaller work using a more complex layering of paint."

Biography

Benjamin took an unconventional route to a career in fine art. As the son of artist Jane Hope, he was introduced to painting at an early age, but he decided against Art School and instead pursued his interest in Mathematics and Physics, culminating in a PhD from Cambridge University. His long-term plan throughout, though, was to become a painter and his artistic training happened concurrently through experimentation, practice and reading. He has been a full time artist since 2011.

Awards

2018: Frinton Frames Award, Royal Society of British Artists Exhibition

2017: Winsor & Newton Non-member Award, Royal Institute of Oil Painters Exhibition

2016: First Prize in the Jackson's Pastel Portrait Competition

2016: Mall Galleries Greetings Card Award: New English Art Club

2014: Pintar Rapido First Prize (The Pintar Prize)

2014: Jackson's Prize, United Society of Artists Open Exhibition

2014: Runner Up, Lynn Painter Stainers Prize

Other Society Memberships

The Pastel Society

Oxford Art Society

Blackheath Art Society

Group and Open Exhibitions

British Plein Air Painters: 2018 (Capturing the Moment, Menier Gallery)

Lynn Painter Stainers Prize: 2014, 2017

New English Art Club: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

Pastel Society: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019

Royal Academy Summer Show: 2013

Royal Institute of Oil Painters: 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018

Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours: 2017

Royal Society of British Artists: 2014, 2018

Royal Society of Marine Artists: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018

Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers: 2013

Royal Society of Portrait Painters: 2015, 2017, 2018

Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Competition: 2015

United Society of Artists: 2014

Pintar Rapido: 2014

Colourfield Gallery: 2017 Winter Exhibition

JP Pop-up Art Galleries: 2014 (Blackheath and Belgravia)

Oxford Art Society: 1998, 1999, 2001, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017

Blackheath Art Society: 2013, 2014

Collections

Work held in private collections in the UK, Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Switzerland, and the USA

Solo Exhibitions

2015: Observations, JP Art Gallery, London

Joint Exhibitions

2018: Island Fine Arts, Chichester (Bemis, Hope)

2017: Works, Gallery Different, London (Hooper, Hope)

2017: Island Fine Arts, Isle of Wight (Cole, Hope, Pearce)

Group and Open Exhibitions

British Plein Air Painters: 2018 (Capturing the Moment, Menier Gallery)

Lynn Painter Stainers Prize: 2014, 2017

New English Art Club: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

Pastel Society: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019

Royal Academy Summer Show: 2013

Royal Institute of Oil Painters: 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018

Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours: 2017

Royal Society of British Artists: 2014, 2018

Royal Society of Marine Artists: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018

Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers: 2013

Royal Society of Portrait Painters: 2015, 2017, 2018

Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Competition: 2015

United Society of Artists: 2014

Pintar Rapido: 2014

Colourfield Gallery: 2017 Winter Exhibition

JP Pop-up Art Galleries: 2014 (Blackheath and Belgravia)

Oxford Art Society: 1998, 1999, 2001, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017

Blackheath Art Society: 2013, 2014

Collections

Work held in private collections in the UK, Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Switzerland, and the USA

Bibliography

A. Gibbons, An Artist's View of London, All Ways Traveller, 30 June 2017

J. Walsh, Notebook, From Clapham to Cornwall..., The Independent on Saturday, 21 November 2015, Radar p.10

C. Hales, Local Colour, Absolutely Battersea & Clapham, November 2015, p.16

H. Peacocke, The Critic's Choice, Oxford Mail review of OAS Members’ Exhibition, 09 April 2001, p.26

Publications

Palette-knife Portraits, The Artist, October 2016, p.37

Plein Air Pastels, The Artist, July 2016, p.23

The Science of Art, Johnian News #37, Michaelmas 2015, p.14

Exhibition catalogues: Observations, 2015; Works, 2017

Taken at Face Value, Fulham Residents’ Journal, July 2012, p.13

Get Hyperreal, Belgravia Residents’ Journal, June 2012, p.13