Laura (2007) Painting by Peter Bennett

I have painted for as long as I can remember and when I left school, I studied Art at Southport and then completed a degree in Fine Art at Newcastle upon Tyne. My final show consisted of portraits in graphite and charcoal. Unfortunately, life sometimes has a habit of taking you down unexpected paths and shortly after that, I found myself married and father to two children and with a family to support, got a job in a bank. I have been there ever since. After a break of more than ten years during which I completed no artwork at all, I was inspired to paint a portrait of my wife’s grandfather which was exhibited in the Chapel Gallery in 2005. Shortly after that, I became a member of the Up Holland Artists’ Society and from then on, have continued to produce work, painting as and when I can find the time. I paint mainly in oils and acrylics but have started to dabble in watercolour landscapes. I consider myself first and foremost a portrait artist, painting people and pets. Van Gogh is my favourite artist, with Impressionism being my preferred era. Whilst I am considering trying my hand at more modern artworks, I currently paint in a figurative style. In an ideal world, I would like to make my living from painting and this is what I am currently working towards.

• Nationality: UNITED KINGDOM
• Date of birth : 1967
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary British Artists