Colin Willey

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Following in the tradition of British landscape art, Colin can often be found out painting in the elements around his home in Dorset, trying to capture the big skies and dramatic light that inspire much of his work. In 2005 Colin was the winner of the Diana Brooks prize at the ‘Art for Youth’ exhibition, Mall Galleries London. He has also exhibited with the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, the New English Art Club and the Royal Society of Marine Artists. He has appeared in many books and magazines including ‘The Artist’ and ‘Ideal Home’ magazine and appeared on the BBC1 TV show ‘Flog It!’ to talk about his work. Colin’s paintings can be found in the permanent collections of the House of Lords and HRH Princess Anne.

 

Colin's work is joyfully received all around the world: "We wanted to thank you for your assistance during our recent visit to the AAF in NY where we purchased Cows Grazing in Sunset by Colin Willey.  It is a breathtakingly beautiful piece, and we are truly enjoying its display on our living room wall"  (Lisa & Dan Glassman, NYC, Affordable Art Fair).

 

Based in Dorchester in Dorset on the south coast of England, Colin Willey has become a highly sought-after and accomplished landscape artist, with work in numerous private and public collections throughout the UK and beyond, including a series of landscapes commissioned by the Palace of Westminster, London to hang in the House of Lords.

 

Born in 1972 he had his first breaks after winning prestigious awards at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI) and the Mall Galleries, London. He has exhibited with Carina Haslam Gallery since its beginning, and has been at all the major UK art fairs, where he has consistently been one of CHG’s and the AAF’s best-selling artists. Colin has also exhibited regularly at the Royal Society of Marine Artists (RSMA) and the New English Art Club (NEAC). 

 

Colin’s work is principally about light and its effects – how light continually changes, transforming the landscape from one moment to the next. Expressing his fascination for the ancient 'Jurassic' coasts of Dorset and East Devon he spontaneously captures its vast skies, billowing clouds and shimmering light. He has an instinctive feel for the uniquely dramatic quality of that stretch of the English coastline, which is now a designated World Heritage site.

 

Mixed exhibitions

2016 (with Carina Haslam Art)

        Affordable Art Fair (AAF), London: Battersea/Hampstead

        AAF New York 

 

2015 (with Carina Haslam Art)

        20/21 International Art Fair, Royal College of Art, London 

        AAF London: Battersea/Hampstead

        AAF New York 

        Chelsea Art Fair

        AAF Bristol

        Cambridge City Art Fair

 

2014  

        20/21 International Art Fair, Royal College of Art,London 

        AAF, London Battersea

        (and annually since 2003 with Carina Haslam Art)

        Oxford and Cambridge Art Fairs

        AAF New York with CHA

        Chelsea Art Fair, London with CHA

 

2013 (with Carina Haslam Art)    

        AAF London Hampstead

        AAF Bristol

        Chelsea Art Fair

        Cambridge Art Fair

 

Solo exhibitions

2012         Gallery on the square, Poundbury

                Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester   

 

2011        Blue Sky Gallery, Bridport

 

2009         Brownsword Hall, Poundbury

 

2008        The Pierrepoint Gallery, Bridport

 

2005        Elder & Froy, Poundbury

                Brownsword Hall, Poundbury

 

2003        Dorset County Museum, Dorchester

 

2000        The Gallery Dorchester

 

Further mixed exhibitions

1998–present    Wykeham Gallery, Stockbridge

2011–present    Lyndhurst Gallery, Hampshire

2011–present    Mulberry Tree Gallery, Swanage

2010-–present   Blue Sky Gallery, Bridport

2012–present    D’Art Gallery, Dartmouth

2009–present    Artemisia Gallery, Abbotsbury

2010                        'Artists of the Jurassic Coast’, Eype Centre for the Arts

2007–2010         Russell Gallery, Putney

2004–2010         The Pierrrepoint Gallery, Bridport

2010                        ‘New Beginnings’, Dorchester

2004–2006         Carina Haslam at the Lennox Gallery, London

 

Open exhibitions

2005–present                        ‘Art for Youth’,  Royal College of Art

1998, 2000, 2001, 2006  New English Art Club

1997, 1999, 2001, 2002  Royal Society of Marine Artists

1997, 2001                              Royal Institute of Oil Painters

2001                                            Royal Society of British Artists

1999, 2000                              Royal West of England Academy

1997                                            The Laing Landscape Exhibition

 

Publications

Two articles for The Artist magazine

Feb 2003: Represented on the front cover of Ideal Home magazine

Jul 2009: Featured in Dorset Magazine

Featured in the book Art Class, published by Harper Collins

 

Training

1996–1997        University of Brighton, PGCE (Art & Design)

1992–1995        Cheltenham & Gloucester College, BA (Hons) Fine Art

1991–1992        Harrow College, Foundation (Art & Design)

 

Awards 

2005                      Winner of the Diana Brooks prize, ‘Art for Youth’ London

1997, 2001        Finalist in the Winsor and Newton Young Artist competition

 

Public collections

2011           Triptych for the National Health Service (NHS), England

2011           House of Lords, Westminster, London - 4 paintings for the permanent collection