Kerry Hallam
Encyclopedia
Kerry Hallam is a British
impressionist
artist who has produced approximately twelve thousand paintings and whose work is included in collections held by Brigitte Bardot
and Björn Borg
as well as decorating the permanent residence of Monaco's
Ambassador to the United States
. Hallam was trained in Chesterfield
and London
, and has been based in Nantucket since 1981. Hallam has developed a reputation as a wise rogue and enjoyed success with exhibitions worldwide, including one entitled Nude Ex-Wives. His work has been shown at art galleries in New York
, London, Paris
, Tokyo
and Beverly Hills.
, north east Derbyshire
, where he sold his first painting, a watercolour of the Lake District
, at an open air market aged thirteen. He attended Chesterfield Art College
for two years, going on to win a six year scholarship to London's Central School of Arts and Crafts
. After studying under British masters Leslie Cole, Patrick Heron
and Hans Tisdale, Hallam graduated with the National Diploma in Painting in 1957. He then spent two years in the British Army
in Hong Kong
and Malaya
, where he was attached to the Black Watch
and the Gurkha Brigade. In 1961 he returned to London
, working in advertising as a draftsman and designer. In 1964, Hallam headed for the south of France
to paint full time.
at concerts and released the LP Strandgut on Polydor Records
), Hallam dedicated himself to painting. He established his first studio in Boston
and in 1981 opened a studio and gallery on Nantucket Island, moving there in 1995.
Inspired by the Fauves
, Hallam has a love for the 19th century French Post-Impressionists, Cezanne and Van Gogh. Hallam returns frequently to St. Tropez and the French Riviera
, two of his favourite sources of inspiration. Noted for his striking colour harmonies, Hallam's panoramas continue to draw accolades, including a first place award by L’Association Pour le Promotion Artistique Francais. His work has been featured in a large number of print articles, such as the October 400 issue of Forbes
magazine in 1999 as well as in PBS television specials. Chalk & Vermilion Fine Arts and Martin Lawrence Galleries
are Hallam's most notable publishers.
Despite his volume of sales and critical acclaim, Hallam has become a cult figure in the art world and forged a reputation as something of a rogue. Fathering a child in his early 50s, he went on to present an exhibition of his work entitled Nude Ex-Wives.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
impressionist
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s...
artist who has produced approximately twelve thousand paintings and whose work is included in collections held by Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot is a French former fashion model, actress, singer and animal rights activist. She was one of the best-known sex-symbols of the 1960s.In her early life, Bardot was an aspiring ballet dancer...
and Björn Borg
Björn Borg
Björn Rune Borg is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French Open singles titles...
as well as decorating the permanent residence of Monaco's
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
Ambassador to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Hallam was trained in Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and has been based in Nantucket since 1981. Hallam has developed a reputation as a wise rogue and enjoyed success with exhibitions worldwide, including one entitled Nude Ex-Wives. His work has been shown at art galleries in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, London, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and Beverly Hills.
Biography
Hallam was born in StaveleyStaveley
Staveley could refer to several places:*Staveley, Cumbria*Staveley-in-Cartmel*Staveley, Derbyshire*Staveley, North Yorkshire*Staveley, New Zealand, a locality in the Ashburton District-Surname:...
, north east Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, where he sold his first painting, a watercolour of the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
, at an open air market aged thirteen. He attended Chesterfield Art College
Chesterfield College
Chesterfield College is a further education further and higher education college in the town of Chesterfield in North East Derbyshire, England. The college consists of three campuses spread over the town of Chesterfield and serves over 21,000 students of which 5,600 are full time attends.- History...
for two years, going on to win a six year scholarship to London's Central School of Arts and Crafts
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London. The school has an outstanding international reputation, and is considered one of the world's leading art and design institutions...
. After studying under British masters Leslie Cole, Patrick Heron
Patrick Heron
Patrick Heron , was an English painter, writer and designer, based in St. Ives, Cornwall.- Early life :...
and Hans Tisdale, Hallam graduated with the National Diploma in Painting in 1957. He then spent two years in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
, where he was attached to the Black Watch
Black Watch
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
and the Gurkha Brigade. In 1961 he returned to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, working in advertising as a draftsman and designer. In 1964, Hallam headed for the south of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to paint full time.
Career
Hallam's talent was acknowledged when he was selected for inclusion in Britain's Royal Society of Artists in Watercolour. In 1973 he moved to the United States. After a short career as a musical performer (during which he opened for James TaylorJames Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
at concerts and released the LP Strandgut on Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
), Hallam dedicated himself to painting. He established his first studio in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and in 1981 opened a studio and gallery on Nantucket Island, moving there in 1995.
Inspired by the Fauves
Fauvism
Fauvism is the style of les Fauves , a short-lived and loose group of early twentieth-century Modern artists whose works emphasized painterly qualities and strong colour over the representational or realistic values retained by Impressionism...
, Hallam has a love for the 19th century French Post-Impressionists, Cezanne and Van Gogh. Hallam returns frequently to St. Tropez and the French Riviera
French Riviera
The Côte d'Azur, pronounced , often known in English as the French Riviera , is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco...
, two of his favourite sources of inspiration. Noted for his striking colour harmonies, Hallam's panoramas continue to draw accolades, including a first place award by L’Association Pour le Promotion Artistique Francais. His work has been featured in a large number of print articles, such as the October 400 issue of Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine in 1999 as well as in PBS television specials. Chalk & Vermilion Fine Arts and Martin Lawrence Galleries
Martin Lawrence Galleries
Martin Lawrence Galleries was founded in 1975 and operates 12 fine art galleries in the United States specializing in original paintings, sculpture and limited edition graphics.Martin Lawrence has an substantial collection of artwork, all of...
are Hallam's most notable publishers.
Despite his volume of sales and critical acclaim, Hallam has become a cult figure in the art world and forged a reputation as something of a rogue. Fathering a child in his early 50s, he went on to present an exhibition of his work entitled Nude Ex-Wives.
Recent work
Hallam returned to music in 2006 with Autumn Harvest, a CD released by Boston Skyline Records, featuring remastered songs from 1972. Nantucket Notables, a collection of watercolor sketches of Nantucket's residents, was published in 2007. A visual compilation of Hallam's work, Kerry Hallam: Artistic Visions, and his autobiography, Getting To Nantucket: An Artist's Journey, were both published in 2000.Works
- Albums
- Strandgut (1966)
- Autumn Harvest (2006)
- Books
- Getting To Nantucket: An Artist's Journey (2000)
- Kerry Hallam: Artistic Visions (2000)
- Nantucket Notables (2007)