Mike Bernard RI (Born 1957)

Mike Bernard trained at the West Surrey College of Art and Design, Farnham, followed by post graduate studies at the Royal Academy Schools. Since then he has exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Mall Galleries, Royal Festival Hall and many private galleries in London and the provinces. Amongst many awards and prizes his work has garnered are the the Stowells Trophy, the Elizabeth Greenshield Fellowship, the Silver Longboat Award and Laing Award. Mike was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour in 1997 and in the was awarded the society's Kingsmead Gallery Award at their annual exhibition in 1999. He moved to Devon in 2008 where the distinctive west country light has proved a great inspiration.

Mike enjoys experimenting with media and techniques, often using mixed media incorporating collage and acrylics with oils and watercolour. Within his paintings he tries to develop original ideas of texture and light, combining both into the semi-abstract images of landscapes, seascapes, street scenes, still life and figurative compositions that have made his name. The originator of this very distinctive style Mike's technique has proved popular amongst the artistic community at large and is often copied by his many followers in the amateur painting community.