Gerard Tunney is willing to accept commissions
Most of my work is influenced by experiences of working in the theatre and I use theatre-based subject matter as a source for my paintings; this includes ballet, Shakespeare, poetry, and myth. I am particularly interested in the theatre's capacity to transform and change these subjects through the use of costumes, make-up, lighting, etc. This creates all sorts of abstract possibilities within the work and is an endless source of fascination for me.
The paintings can depict dancers going about their backstage routines or can be heightened by more theatrical subject matter, such as poetry and myth. I think that it is the diversity of the subject matter that attracts me the most and the fact that it never ceases to provide fresh source material for my work. Most of my paintings are acrylic on canvas which combines the spontaneity of watercolour with the sturdiness of oil paint. Acrylic dries fairly quickly which generates an immediacy within the work as it progresses.
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Gerard Tunney is willing to accept commissions
Most of my work is influenced by experiences of working in the theatre and I use theatre-based subject matter as a source for my paintings; this includes ballet, Shakespeare, poetry, and myth. I am particularly interested in the theatre's capacity to transform and change these subjects through the use of costumes, make-up, lighting, etc. This creates all sorts of abstract possibilities within the work and is an endless source of fascination for me.
The paintings can depict dancers going about their backstage routines or can be heightened by more theatrical subject matter, such as poetry and myth. I think that it is the diversity of the subject matter that attracts me the most and the fact that it never ceases to provide fresh source material for my work. Most of my paintings are acrylic on canvas which combines the spontaneity of watercolour with the sturdiness of oil paint. Acrylic dries fairly quickly which generates an immediacy within the work as it progresses. This way, the painting always retains the element of freshness that I am trying to capture.
Other paintings are oil on canvas which are glazed to try and achieve a rich jewel-like quality. These technical experiences have enabled me to participate in demonstration classes for various magazines, books, etc. My work was further developed with a series of Fine Art Residencies with The Birmingham Royal Ballet; Opera North; Northern Sinfonia and I draw on these experiences to inform and enrich my paintings. I have been a professional fine artist since graduating from university in the mid-'80s and I have supplemented my studio work through teaching and gallery work. I have shown widely across the U.K., particularly the Northeast and London.
STUDIED
1975 B.A.(HONS)FINE ART. SUNDERLAND UNIVERSITY.
1986 M.A. FINE ART.THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHUMBRIA, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE.
EXHIBITIONS.
2022 EQUESTRIAN ART UK
2021 THE ATTIC GALLERY, SWANSEA.
2020 TURNING ART
2019 SIMS ONLINE
2018 LUMINAIRE ARTS, LONDON
2017 NORTHEAST ART COLLECTIVE, NEWCASTLE.
2016 PRIOR GALLERY, TYNEMOUTH.
2015 HASLAMS GALLERY, HEXHAM
2014 The LOOK GALLERY, HELMSLEY.
2013 NUMBER 9 THE GALLERY, BIRMINGHAM.
2012 STORE STREET GALLERY
2011 VILAS ART GALLERY, LETCHWORTH.
2010/11 BANKSIDE GALLERY, LONDON.
2010 LA GALLERIA, LONDON.
2010 OBSIDIAN GALLERY, STOKE MANDEVILLE
2008 ARTISTIC GALLERIES, LONDON.
2007 THE RUSSELL GALLERY, LONDON.
2007 NUMASTERS & ART MOVEMENT, LONDON.
2007 RUIZ GALLERY, ELY.
2002/6 THE BISCUIT FACTORY, NEWCASTLE
2004 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF MARINE ARTISTS, THE MALL GALLERIES, LONDON.
2002 THE CHELSEA ART FAIR. LONDON.
2001 THE ART BOOK LONDON.
2000 THE TRADING COMPANY. LONDON.
1997 THE LOGOS GALLERY, LONDON.
1996 COOMBS CONTEMPORARY ART, LONDON.
1996 THE ROWLEY GALLERY LONDON.
1995 NEW ACADEMY GALLERY, LONDON.
1995 NORTHERN CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, SUNDERLAND.
1994 NEW YORK GALLERY, YORK.
1993 ZELLA BELL GALLERY, THIRSK.
1992 ROY MILES GALLERY, LONDON.
1992/7 THE HATTON GALLERY, NEWCASTLE.
1990 SAYAT NOVA GALLERY, LONDON.
1990 SELLCOURT GALLERY, LONDON.
1989 ALBA FINE ART, LONDON.
1989 THE CENTAUR GALLERY, LONDON.
1989 CHALK FARM GALLERY, LONDON.
1988 MERZCONTEMPORARY ART, LONDON.
1988 RIVERSIDE GALLERY, LONDON.
1988 ST. NAZAIRE GALLERY, FRANCE
1987 THE SOLOMON GALLERY, LONDON.
PLUS VARIOUS MIXED EXHIBITIONS ACROSS THE U.K.
RESIDENCIES AND ASSOCIATED STUDIO WORK.
1997 BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET RESIDENCY.
I998 AN EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS BASED ON MOZART’S “THE MAGIC FLUTE”,( TO
COINCIDE WITH OPERA NORTH TOUR PROGRAMME)
1998 OPERA NORTH RESIDENCY (IN COLLABORATION WITH PRICE WATERHOUSE, COOPERS)
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