Michael Taylor RP

Statement

I work in oils on one painting at a time, almost entirely from life. If possible I try to let one picture lead naturally onto the next, with the exception of the occasional commissioned portrait which are treated individually. This has been going on more or less without a break since I left Goldsmiths College in 1974, and I intend, if possible, to continue as long as it takes.

Methodology

I develop a composition from small fragments via a large number of diagramatic doodles over a number of weeks, until the image no longer changes from drawing to drawing. I then work from life directly onto canvas with oil paint. It usually takes between two and four months for a painting to be ready to leave, and during this period I do not attempt to work on anything else. I do not like to work from photographs, although when time with a model is restricted I will take stereoscopic transparencies which I find considerably more informative about form, texture and lighting matters

Bio

• 1952 Born Worthing, Sussex.

• 1969–70 Worthing College of Art.

• 1970–73 Goldsmiths School of Art, BA Hons.

• 2001 Elected member of Royal Society of Portrait Painters.

Scholarships, Awards, Prizes

• 2018, Winner, RP Smallwood Architects Prize

• 2007 International Fine Art Fair, Palm Beach, Florida, Waterhouse & Dodd

• Art20, Armory, New York, Waterhouse & Dodd

• Self Portrait with Machine & Portrait with Grave Goods acquired by Scheringa Museum Voor Realisme, The Netherlands commissioned by The House of Lords: Lord Falconer of Thoroton, Lord Chancellor 2003-2007 (last such portrait to be commissioned)

• 2006 International Fine Art Fair, Palm Beach, Florida, Waterhouse & Dodd

• 2003 Portrait of Andy Sheppard unveiled at the Holburne Museum of Art, Bath

• 2002 Winner of Changing Faces prize at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters exhibition: Sir John Tavener

• Winner of Holburne Portrait Prize at the Holburne Museum of Art in Bath: Couple with Lamp

• Channel 4 television programme ‘In Your Face’ on Baroness P.D.James portrait.

• 2001 Exhibited Royal Society of Portrait Painters Exhibition, Mall Galleries.

• Elected member of Royal Society of Portrait Painters.

• Couple with Lamp selected for display in National Portrait Gallery, London.

• Painted portrait of Sir John Tavener – acquired by National Portrait Gallery, London

• 1991 Baroness P D James portrait loaned to 10 Downing Street

• 1996 Commissioned National Portrait Gallery, London: Baroness P D James

• 1992 -1997 London Art Fair, Business Design Centre, Islington, London

• 1991 Mixed Summer Exhibition, Beaux Arts, Bath

• 1989 Winner of Millfield Open Art Competition

• 1988 Third Prize, Hunting Group Art Prizes, Mall Galleries

• 1984 Commissioned National Portrait Gallery, London: Julian Bream

• Subsequent portrait commissions including at Christchurch Hall Oxford, Robinson College Cambridge, Southampton University, Church House Oxford

• 1983 John Player Award Winner, National Portrait Gallery, London

• 1982 John Player Award Finalist (Commended), National Portrait Gallery, London

• 1981 John Player Award Finalist, National Portrait Gallery, London