BIOGRAPHY

Neil Shawcross (born in Lancashire, England, 1940) is a renowned colourist and technical innovator who gained inspiration from French artists such as Matisse, Cezanne and Bonnard. Portraiture and still life dominate his practice and his approach to painting is simplistic and almost childlike. He has lived and worked in Belfast since 1962. Shawcross studied at Bolton College of Art from 1955 to 1958 and also at Lancaster College of Art from 1958 to 1960. He has had solo exhibitions in Dublin, Belfast, London and Manchester, and internationally in the United States and Hong Kong.

He held the position of Professor of Painting at the College of Art in Belfast until his retirement in 2004, currently he is focusing solely on making art.

Shawcross was elected an Associate of the Royal Ulster Academy of Art in 1975 and in 1977 he became a full Academician. Recently Shawcross was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to the arts in Northern Ireland.

Awards include Gallaher Portrait Prize (1966), RUA Conor Award (1975), RUA Gold Medal (1978, 1982, 1987, 1994, 1997, 2001), RUA Academician (1978), Arnolds National Portrait Award, Dublin (1990), James Adam Prize (1998), and Sandford and Leinster Galleries Award (2006).

His artworks are held within many public and private collections.