about and contact

Matt Harvey is a contemporary British artist and portrait painter based in Devon UK. His portraits in oil, pencil and marble are celebrated for the depth of their humanity and vibrant character.

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I graduated from Wimbledon School of Art in London after studying Fine Art, Sculpture. I developed an art practice making abstract sculpture and painting, and also continued to work on the art of portrait painting. I became increasingly interested in renaissance and baroque painting techniques, and had the opportunity to study under James Scrace, a pupil of Pietro Annigone’s, who taught me the techniques of the Italian masters.

I continue to use these techniques in my oil portraits, gaining commissions from a wide variety of clients.

I am interested in the optical effects of painting in oil. In my portraits I use the ‘grisaille’ method, painting in a monotone and then building up layers of glaze. Here the optical effect happens when light passes through each glaze like through a stained glass window, giving a luminous quality to the portraits.

My portrait paintings have been filmed in real time and show the process of painting these glazes, to provide inspiration and instruction to artists learning this technique.

My paintings give the impression that the painting and the sitter are illuminated from within. Each person has a beautiful inner life that is evoked through this beautiful method.

As well as painting in oils I also make bronze portraits and carve portraits directly in marble. All the marble I use is sourced in the famous Carrara mountains in Italy, the same marble as used by sculptors such as Michelangelo during the renaissance.

Please a message in the comments box below to discuss commissioning a portrait of your loved one.

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