Colin Willey
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