Edward Bell (artist)
Encyclopedia
Edward Bell studied art at Brighton College of Art, graphic design
at Chelsea School of Art and photography
at the Royal College of Art
. He worked as a freelance photographer and illustrator for Vogue
, Tatler
and Elle
magazines. He was commissioned for portraits for album covers for David Bowie
(Scary Monsters and Tin Machine
) and Hazel O'Connor
(Sons and Lovers). He has exhibited widely on the London art scene and his work covers many genres from life paintings to bronzes, from pop art to landscapes.
Bell was also the subject of a film by the artist Marcus Thompson, titled Edward.
and went on to study Art at Brighton College of Art (now the University of Brighton
). He took a Graphic design
degree at Chelsea School of Art, along with amongst others, the author and designer Roger Kohn
; and from there went on to take an MA in photography at the Royal College of Art
. According to Bell's own account of his time at the Royal College, he clashed with the head of department and 'refused' the MA he was awarded,
Bell worked as a freelance photographer undertaking various iconic art projects including work for Vogue and Tatler
, as well as the Album cover for David Bowie's Scary Monsters of which he has written:
After ‘dropping-out’ of the London art scene, and for a while becoming a self-confessed heroin addict Bell took 'time out' in Venice
and Florence
. His return to the Art World in 2003 was marked by an exhibition in Gallery 286, London, entitled Re-nude. It was closely followed by Pulse, a collection of symbolic abstracts:
, was described by BBC Shropshire in the following terms:
Bell's latest exhibition One Sky, Gallery 286 is a series of skyscapes and landscapes, painted 'en plein air' in oil on canvas or board.
, David Hockney
, Tracey Emin
and Damien Hirst
who produced a postcard, selected by Bernard Williams of Christie's, for the Art of Care Auction in Edinburgh.
Emigration, June 2008, Stronach Gallery Co. Galway
Pulse, 2006, Gallery 286 London
Re-Nude, 2003, Gallery 286 London
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
at Chelsea School of Art and photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
at the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
. He worked as a freelance photographer and illustrator for Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
, Tatler
Tatler
Tatler has been the name of several British journals and magazines, each of which has viewed itself as the successor of the original literary and society journal founded by Richard Steele in 1709. The current incarnation, founded in 1901, is a glossy magazine published by Condé Nast Publications...
and Elle
Elle (magazine)
Elle is a worldwide magazine of French origin that focuses on women's fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. Elle is also the world's largest fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon in 1945. The title, in French, means "she".-History:Elle was founded in...
magazines. He was commissioned for portraits for album covers for David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
(Scary Monsters and Tin Machine
Tin Machine
Tin Machine was a hard rock band formed in 1988, famous for being fronted by singer David Bowie. The group recorded two studio albums before dissolving in 1992, when Bowie returned to his solo career...
) and Hazel O'Connor
Hazel O'Connor
Hazel O'Connor is an English singer-songwriter and actress. She is the daughter of a soldier from Galway who settled in England after World War II to work in a car plant...
(Sons and Lovers). He has exhibited widely on the London art scene and his work covers many genres from life paintings to bronzes, from pop art to landscapes.
Bell was also the subject of a film by the artist Marcus Thompson, titled Edward.
Background and education
Edward Bell was educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service CollegeHaileybury and Imperial Service College
Haileybury and Imperial Service College, , is a prestigious British independent school founded in 1862. The school is located at Hertford Heath, near Hertford, from central London, on of parkland occupied until 1858 by the East India College...
and went on to study Art at Brighton College of Art (now the University of Brighton
University of Brighton
The University of Brighton is an English university of the United Kingdom, with a community of over 23,000 students and 2,600 staff based on campuses in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. It has one of the best teaching quality ratings in the UK and a strong research record, factors which...
). He took a Graphic design
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
degree at Chelsea School of Art, along with amongst others, the author and designer Roger Kohn
Roger Kohn
Roger Kohn is a designer and author. He studied with Rowan Gillespie at York School of Art and is the Irish sculptor's biographer.-Education and career:Kohn was educated at Marton Hall Preparatory School and Pocklington School...
; and from there went on to take an MA in photography at the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
. According to Bell's own account of his time at the Royal College, he clashed with the head of department and 'refused' the MA he was awarded,
"Studying photography at the Royal proved a disappointment, for them and me. The then head of department would have been more suited to coaching a rugby scrum. I reacted, and on being awarded the MA refused it in disgust. (It turned up months later in the post.)"
Bell worked as a freelance photographer undertaking various iconic art projects including work for Vogue and Tatler
Tatler
Tatler has been the name of several British journals and magazines, each of which has viewed itself as the successor of the original literary and society journal founded by Richard Steele in 1709. The current incarnation, founded in 1901, is a glossy magazine published by Condé Nast Publications...
, as well as the Album cover for David Bowie's Scary Monsters of which he has written:
"This client was dressed in an insipid yellow, short sleeved shirt and bright red trousers, but most damning of all he wore dark glasses to examine the pictures. I was introduced to:
“David”
“David who?”
“David Bowie”
I stood corrected, and to my astonishment we got on together. He wanted an album design within the week. OK no problem. The image for ‘Scary Monsters’ was produced".
After ‘dropping-out’ of the London art scene, and for a while becoming a self-confessed heroin addict Bell took 'time out' in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
and Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
. His return to the Art World in 2003 was marked by an exhibition in Gallery 286, London, entitled Re-nude. It was closely followed by Pulse, a collection of symbolic abstracts:
“I believe us all to be a combination of black and white hearts and life about crossing out as many black as possible. Here I depict the varied combinations of black white, tranquil, tortured, grey, craven, colourful, Mickey MouseMickey MouseMickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
, monstrous …."
Recent work
Bell's work has tended to be focused in two areas nudes and landscapes. His recent exhibition of landscapes in oil Stunning Moments at the Arterie Gallery in LudlowLudlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
, was described by BBC Shropshire in the following terms:
"The speed of painting is one of the most enthralling aspects of the exhibition. Amid the complex abstraction of colour and landscape, there's an engaging simplicity of brush strokes, light and shade. The speed of capture also translates into an energy, even within some of the darkest backdrops, punctuated with their small, almost horizontal flashes of iridescent colour."
Bell's latest exhibition One Sky, Gallery 286 is a series of skyscapes and landscapes, painted 'en plein air' in oil on canvas or board.
Additional information
In 2005, Bell was among the many artists, including Sir Paul McCartneyPaul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, David Hockney
David Hockney
David Hockney, CH, RA, is an English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer, who is based in Bridlington, Yorkshire and Kensington, London....
, Tracey Emin
Tracey Emin
Tracey Karima Emin RA is a British artist of English and Turkish Cypriot origin. She is part of the group known as Britartists or YBAs ....
and Damien Hirst
Damien Hirst
Damien Steven Hirst is an English artist, entrepreneur and art collector. He is the most prominent member of the group known as the Young British Artists , who dominated the art scene in Britain during the 1990s. He is internationally renowned, and is reportedly Britain's richest living artist,...
who produced a postcard, selected by Bernard Williams of Christie's, for the Art of Care Auction in Edinburgh.
External links
Exhibitions
One Sky, October 2008, Gallery 286 LondonEmigration, June 2008, Stronach Gallery Co. Galway
Pulse, 2006, Gallery 286 London
Re-Nude, 2003, Gallery 286 London