Born 1986, Keighley artist, Ben Snowden, studied fine art at Bradford College. His drawings and paintings are influenced by the human form and landscape, and his work has been exhibited in London and Yorkshire.
‘Everything you need is up here’. Mixed media on cloth. 51.5cm x 68cm. Image, by courtesy of the artist; see artist website below.
He has said of it:
My work explores the relationships and ideas between subject and emotion, combining visceral energy with experience through the medium of paint. Inspired by the human form and my native Yorkshire Landscape, I use the language of abstraction to create work that emphasises on mood and expression to dictate the overall feeling of the paintings. I predominantly work with enamel and household paints on materials such as paper, board, card, cloth and wood that I find in everyday life. My main focus is to create work that evokes the senses and communicates a positive and constructive view of the world
He explores ideas and relationships between emotion, unconscious and figurative reality, inviting viewers to find their own meanings in the work.
In 2018 Ben’s work was chosen to be part of The Priseman Seabrook Collection of 21st Century British Painting and in 2019, Ben’s artwork was selected as one of the ’82 Painters of the 21st Century’ featured in ‘Made in Britain’ at the National Gallery of Poland in Gdansk.
‘Sailing to heaven’. Mixed media on wood. 27cm x 56.5cm. Image; by courtesy of the artist; see artist’s website, below.
Exhibition history
Solo Exhibition – Foxtail Gallery, Holmfirth, ‘Dreams of Being’, April – May 2016.
Finalist for the National Open Art Competition 2015 at the Royal College of Art, London, October – November 2015.
Finalist for the Platform Open Annual Art Exhibition 2015 at Morphets of Harrogate, October 2015.
Shortlisted for the Royal Academy of Art Summer Exhibition 2015.
Shards – The Gallery in Redchurch Street, London, Group show of Contemporary and 20th Century Art (in association with The Redfern Gallery), May 2012.
Solo Exhibition – The Bingley Gallery, West Yorkshire, collection of new paintings, March 2012.
‘Now is My Winter’ – The Gallery in Redchurch Street, London, Group show of Contemporary and 20th Century Art (in association with The Redfern Gallery), December 2011.
‘Hyperbolic Pigment’ – The Gallery in Redchurch Street, London,Group show of Contemporary and 20th Century Art (in association with The Redfern Gallery), October 2011.
‘Janus Youth’ – The Gallery in Redchurch Street, London,Group show of Contemporary and 20th Century Art (in association with The Redfern Gallery), June 2011.
Bradford Open Art Competition – Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Bradford. Exhibition of Yorkshire Artists, March – June 2011.
‘Exhausted Colour’ – The Gallery in Redchurch Street, London, Group show of Contemporary and 20th Century Art (in association with The Redfern Gallery), March 2011.
Finalist for the Black Swan Arts Open 2016 at Black Swan Arts Main Gallery, Frome, 21st October – 19th November 2016
Shortlisted for the National Open Art Competition 2016
Work shown on the Big Screen, Centenary Square, Bradford, West Yorkshire during August and December, 2016, May and June, 2018, and January and February, 2019, with themed presentations illustrating and celebrating the work of local artists
‘Scars to be seen’. Mixed media on paper and card, 38cm x 25cm. Image: courtesy of the artist; see artist’s website, below.
Artist’s website: http://bensnowdenartist.com/
Ben writes about his work on ‘My Art’ at https://www.notjusthockney.info/snowden-ben-my-art/