Kevin Hendley
“My subjects are captured from afternoons spent observing street life in London and Brighton, sketching, and taking candid photographs. Always using humour and pathos, and imagining another, slightly surreal world of these individuals, I then paint these theatrical characters in oils on wood and make my own frames”
Born into a Northern coal mining family and after spending 10 years as a master butcher, Kevin moved to London in the 90s and obtained a degree in fine art from Central Saint Martin’s. In 1993 after being spotted at his end of year show he was given the post of artist in residence at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
For several years Kevin was able to paint the day-to-day activities in the opera house: performances, shows, even following Pavarotti from rehearsal to the final operatic production. These classics were put on the front of the Royal Opera House brochures, and he was given an exhibition of the work he had produced over the years.
Kevin’s paintings are sold in the UK and Internationally through galleries and Art Fairs and are much sought after by collectors and investors. Much of his work has been portraiture, inspired by the techniques of the Old Masters, which he learnt from dedicating time studying them at the National Gallery every day for years.