About Philip Gerrard

Artistic talent ran in my family though I was the first to develop my interest and skills and paint professionally. I cannot recall my exact age when I started to draw and paint though I was very young and remember asking for sets of paints as birthday presents. At school I frequently came top in art demonstrating talent from a very early age. My ambition was that one day I would become a professional artist. When I left school I went into estate agency where I developed commercial skills which also helped me in the art world. I continued to paint in every spare moment practising and perfecting until after many years my first major breakthrough came when I began to paint still life and this enabled me to turn professional in 1996. Since turning professional I have developed my portfolio into other genres including landscapes, animals, wildlife etc. Throughout the following years I won several awards and had work accepted for exhibition by leading art organizations.

My realism paintings demonstrate timeless quality and appeal. They are not minimalist nor are they over composed. I prefer a fusion of classical and contemporary influences. This has been achieved by lengthy research and the study of methods used over the centuries as well as the most cutting edge. For example I use the ancient Euclidean compositional rules which creates great order and harmony in the painting. My palette and colour mixing is a blend of some traditional earth pigments but mostly modern methods using only spectral pigments. This creates depth of colour and intense light and luminosity in the subject.

I also attach great significance to the demonstration of the skills appreciated by the discerning collector. My paintings are detailed and realistic but never overworked. Elements which detract from the viewers experience are excluded or reduced and aspects which require increased significance are exaggerated. This is all part of my style and has been developed over many years.

Most artists ally themselves to a particular group of like-minded painters and I belong to the “Classical Realism” school. The movement places great emphasis on the development of true artistic skill and the creation of paintings of great beauty. My work hangs in private collections in the UK, USA and Australia.

EXHIBITIONS

2004. Daily Mail “Not the Turner Prize”

2006. National Exhibition Wildlife Art.

2006. “Wildart Expo” Bonhams Chester

2006. Wildlife Art Society International.

2007. National Exhibition Wildlife Art. 

2007. The Wildlife Art Society International

2007. Royal West Of England Academy

2007. Royal Birmingham Society of Artists

2009. Grosvenor Open Art Exhibition, Grosvenor Museum, Chester. 

2009. National Exhibition Wildlife Art.

2011. National Exhibition Wildlife Art.

2013. Grosvenor Open Art Exhibition, Grosvenor Museum, Chester

AWARDS

2004. Daily Mail “Not the Turner Prize”-“Short listed”.

2006. “Wildart Expo” Bonhams Chester - awarded a “Commended” and a “Highly Commended”.

2007. The Wildlife Art Society International-Bronze Medal Winner

MAGAZINE FEATURES

1998. (April) Lancashire Life published a Four Page Feature.

2000. (February) International Artist magazine feature in the “Master painters of the World Showcase”.

2012. Countryman Magazine. A feature was published in the August 2012 issue.

2015. (May) Lancashire Life “Artist of the Month”.

2016 (Spring) A feature in “This England” magazine.

NOTABLE COMMISSIONS

2010. Commissioned By St Helens RLFC. At the end of the 2010 season and after 120 years at Knowsley Road "Saints" played their last game at their historic ground and have now moved to a brand new stadium. As a tribute and to provide a lasting memory I was commissioned by the club to paint a portrait of the Knowsley Road ground which was reproduced as fine art prints for fans and supporters of "Saints".

NOTABLE ASSOCIATIONS

2014. PPT Art LUISS Business School Rome. Invited to become a listed artist for PPT Art which provides art globally for private and corporate clients. 

ART FAIRS

2016. Chester Arts Fair

2017 Chester Arts Fair

2018 Chester arts Fair