The UK has a great number of painters in different fields but I’m going to focus on three of the most popular British artists. They are Doug Hyde, John Vettriano and Beryl Cook.
The birth of Beryl Cook’s first child also marked the beginning of her getting involved in the field of painting. Beryl Cook made painting her avocation or hobby and being a hobby, Beryl Cook didn’t invest much when it came to her painting materials. Instead, she chose to start by using her son’s paints and brushes.
It was a friend and antiques trader who became Beryl Cook’s first fan. Her art work got the attention of the dealer, who asked her if it would be possible to sell her paintings in the shop. Beryl Cook agreed to it and they were able to sell the first three paintings very quickly. Being overwhelmed and inspired by the quick sales, she continued to paint.
Beryl Cook’s art feels like you are watching the world through her eyes. She has put onto canvass, the very things that we all do do everyday. Beryl Cook was very observant with all the happenings around her. This is what catches the attention of her fans because her paintings have those chubby characters that are based on real life happenings, thus adding a personal touch of experience to them. Some of her art, including Cruisin’, which portrays what the people are doing whilst on a cruise. Another painting called The Art Class shows the day to day life of art students in a class. To witness an everyday life of a tennis player, Beryl Cook portrays the players shaking hands over the net, emphasizing challenges, winning and losing as a part of our daily lives.
The youngest of them all is Doug Hyde. What differentiates Doug Hyde from Beryl Cook and Jack Vittriano is that he was able to tap his artistic side at a young age and focused on the ins and outs of painting so he could become a professional artist as he is today.
Doug Hyde’s pieces are literally made by hand because he uses his hands and fingers as paint brushes. Using pastel, he paints according to his emotions and moods. This is Doug Hyde’s way of putting emotion in to his pieces. Contemporary art aficionados love his paintings because of the personal touch of his work. An example of his works include Written in the Stars, in which a caricature owner and his puppy look up at the sky, as if they are making a promise on their lives. Declare Your Love shows the emotion of someone who cannot contain his love and is fully offering it to someone. Emotions that blend in the colour tones of pastels became a footprint of Doug Hyde’s art.
Another slow starter is Jack Vettriano, someone who tapped into his creative side at a later age. It obviously wasn’t too late because he has become extremely popular with his paintings and prints. Before he became an artist, Jack Vettriano quit school and worked as a miner.
Jack Vettriano prints present people who are dressed in smart, sophisticated clothing and in most cases are members of the upper class. His most popular art is The Singing Butler, in which a couple is accompanied by their butler and maid on a beach. Another is the Yesterday’s Dreams painting, this shows a sophisticated lady who is staring out of a window. Turneresque showcases three couples who are dancing, a frequent theme in Jack Vettriano’s work much like romance, sensuality, and elegance which are often found in his work.
All these artists have different approaches when it comes to painting but it is their diversity that made them popular in the contemporary art scene and their contributions to art deserve to be acclaimed.
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