Top Ten Artists

1. Doug Hyde

Doug Hyde was born in 1972 and raised in Bristol. Having loved art since he was little, Doug spent many of his formative years enjoying experimenting with his talent. During his schooling, Doug Hyde spent a lot of time honing his skills on the practical side of art by drawing and painting and experimenting; when he left, he was sure that his career lay in the world of art.

Doug Hyde quickly became a presence to be reckoned with in the world of popular art and Limited Edition Prints. He paints and draws on large canvases, which give his distinctive characters the space to be as impressive as possible; Doug also likes to paint in an unconfined space. He often uses pastels to create his vibrant, stark imagery, and makes marks using his fingers instead of the pastel itself. When an original is reproduced as a Limited Edition Print, the print then retains a bright, airy and rather human quality.

Doug Hyde was voted the most popular living artist in the UK in 2007 by BBC television. He has also won various accolades from the Fine Art Trade Guild. Doug has been featured on television talking about his work both on the BBC and Channel 4, where he appeared on the Richard and Judy Show. Doug Hyde spent time explaining his techniques and how, with his artwork, his intention is always to make the public simply smile.

The Limited Edition Prints produced from Doug Hyde's original paintings are some of the most popular works of art in the UK. His fun interpretations of heart-warming scenes have struck a chord with the art-buying public, and most Limited Edition Prints released sell out very quickly.

2. Henderson Cisz

Born in Brazil in 1960, Henderson Cisz grew up in a small village near Maringa. His talent for painting was clear from as early age, but he never considered pursuing a career as an artist. Instead he entered the banking profession and continued to enjoy painting as a hobby. By the mid 1980s however, Henderson had become convinced that art meant more to him than banking! In 1986 he moved to London in order to study painting, and to make his passion his profession. He has never looked back and now paints full time in his London studio.

A seasoned traveller, Henderson has spent time in Europe, Australia and of course his native South America. While he loves the ocean and has always found it a source of inspiration and joy, he is also a true city-dweller, and many of his most inspirational works feature scenes from the world's most beautiful cities. Painting in acrylic, oil or watercolour on canvas, Henderson's trademark palette utilises cool, soft tones to convey the atmosphere of his subject. His works are regularly displayed in London galleries and at international art fairs.

"I love the effect that weather has on the urban landscape and must confess to a particular fondness for the rain! Not only does it cast interesting shadows and reflections on the slick sidewalks, but it also dictates the stance of the figures. Their slightly defensive postures and hunched shoulders lend a very specific, and to my mind curiously engaging, mood to the overall scene."

Brazilian-born wanderer Henderson Cisz loves to travel the world and paint the drama and diversity of urban life. From New York to Paris, from London to Venice he has formed an intense and loving artistic relationship with these living breathing cities. Although he may have finally settled in London, Henderson's nomadic past has left indelible imprints on his lifestyle, not to mention his artwork, as we can see by joining him for a few hours in the life of a truly cosmopolitan artist.

As early as 8am Henderson is already demonstrating the habits of a good New Yorker or Parisian, sitting back, legs crossed in a leisurely pose, enjoying a freshly ground coffee and a basket of croissants "en famille" in his local cafe. Then it's off to school for the younger children and back to Henderson's delightful mews studio for him and his eldest son, who is currently going in every day to watch and learn both his father's painting techniques and the art of studio management.

Observing Henderson at work is an education in itself. A charming and unassuming man, softly spoken and with a gentle sense of humour, he transforms when he stands before his canvas. Working from the many hundreds of photographs he takes in each location, his style is surprisingly uninhibited and the studio wall is strewn with riotous splashes of paint that have flicked from his animated brush. The room itself is equally chaotic, with rolled canvases stacked against the wall, interspersed with family photos, sketches and works in progress. Yet out of this apparent confusion emerges artwork that is beautifully resonant of the city it represents.

When he is not travelling, Henderson tends to spend the majority of his day painting in his studio which occupies a lovely West London setting close to the Thames. He admits to a great fondness for the UK, and judging by the unstoppable success of his dazzling cityscapes, we are rather fond of him too.
Henderson's Limited Edition Prints are available on Paper or Box Canvas. His stunning Original Paintings are also available on Box Canvas.

3. Sherree Valentine Daines

Sherree Valentine Daines has, to date, had an extraordinary career as an artist. Her work is highly sought after and collected across the globe by legions of fans who admire her impressionist styling. Sherree Valentine Daines has a fantastic reputation as an artist of true integrity and charisma, with her appeal lying in the enchanting scenes she observes and paints with such grace and sophistication.

Sherree Valentine Daines was born and brought up in Surrey. Her immediate family all had artistic flair; her father was a sculptor who worked with stone, and her sisters currently work as artists. She relished her childhood opportunities to paint and draw, and moved onto an art course at college in Epsom as soon as she left school. Sherree was quickly recognised for her raw talent, and exhibited widely in and around her home county. Sherree's career really took off when she began winning awards, and she was named Young Artist of the Year.

Sherree's Limited Edition Prints are exceptionally popular and will typically sell out very quickly. The originals are painted with oils on canvas, which translate very well into Limited Edition Prints both hand embellished and two dimensional. Sherree Valentine Daines manages to capture the essence of a scene; the moods and colours are typically British and fairly traditional in their depiction. It is this quintessential Britishness that makes her Limited Edition Prints so very admired.

Sherree Valentine Daines has been awarded many commissions during her distinguished career, including portraits of the Royal Family. She has often painted sportsmen and sportswomen, and has released a book detailing all of her work, "First Impressions".

4. Rebecca Lardner

Rebecca Lardner was born in Swanage, Dorset in 1971. After completing an Art Foundation Course she graduated from the University of Liverpool with a BA Honours degree in Illustration. She went on to build a highly successful career as an artist and illustrator, having started out creating greetings cards, Rebbeca Lardner now produces mostly original art works, fulfiling commissions for a number of high-profile clients including Paul McCartney's Music Academy, as well as a range of magazines and record sleeves.

Influenced by Cornish artist Alfred Wallis, Rebecca Lardner's distinctive oils on canvas are beautifully depicted portrayals of life on the land and the sea. The large ensemble cast of figures, boats and sea birds creates an impression of ceaseless activity, and this is heightened by the natural curves of the classic English harbour which provide movement and energy. Her palette is based strongly on the colours of the sea, with blues, greens and greys dominating the entire canvas.

Rebecca Lardner is now able to devote more time to her painting and has travelled the world from Ireland to India undertaking prestigious corporate commissions. She has exhibited in a range of high calibre galleries in the UK, Europe and the USA and Rebecca Lardner's evocative oils sell to collectors from all over the world.

5. Remi LaBarre

Canadian artist Remi LaBarre describes his
atmospheric oils as 'painted songs'. Influenced by John
Singer Sargent, his work reflects the lighting of hushed
environments and presents poetic narratives of life after
dark in bars and jazz clubs.
Born in 1977, Remi painted and drew from childhood.
A self-taught painter, he always worked on his pictures
for the sheer enjoyment of it, and his love of painting
still shines through in every piece he creates.
He likes to suggest nostalgia and presents poetic
moments from life observed near his home in Montreal
or in other cities he has visited - Paris, San Francisco
and New York. His inspiration comes from evenings of
shared looks between a man and a woman, from the
drink that perhaps changed everything, or from the
musician who noticed it all from the stage. As he
himself has commented: "The greatest compliment I get
is when people actually come to me and say they hear
the music playing in the painting while looking at it."
Remi LaBarre' s stunning work can be found in
collections across Europe and America including that of
the great Canadian singer songwriter Leonard Cohen.

6. Philip Gray

Philip was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1959. From the age of 5 he loved art, and one of his earliest memories is being tutored in figurative drawing by a family friend, Trevor Scott, the founder of the renowned College of Art and Design in Dublin.
At the age of 16, Philip left school and joined the Irish Navy. Once he had established himself as a naval diver, he began to paint at sea and soon became prolific. He had the great advantage of having a unique perspective on Irish landscapes and seascapes as viewed from the Atlantic Ocean.
The magic in Philip's art lies in his ability to use his artistic creativity as a natural form of communication. With the extraordinary beauty of the mountainous western island, Ireland, as his inspiration, Philip's art provides us with the opportunity, albeit momentarily, to remove ourselves from the chaos of day to day life and appreciate the ordered beauty of nature.
After 17 years in the Navy, and with much encouragement from his wife and family, Philip relinquished his naval career and took the bold step of setting up on his own as an artist. His success was such that he has since become one of Ireland's most celebrated living artists. Philip's work is sold all over the world and his celebrity collectors include Bill Clinton and George W Bush.

7. Fabian Perez

Fabian Perez is Argentinean, and was born in Buenos Aires in 1967. He was raised by his father, who led a rather eccentric and nonconformist existence, running illegal nightclubs and bordellos. Fabian Perez was exposed to a large number of fascinating individuals, and as he grew up, he began to capture these people in portraits. His abilities were evident from this very young age, as he painted with fantastic acuity.

Wanting to see the world, Fabian Perez left home at the age of 22, where he travelled to Europe and the Far East and picked up a multitude of inspiration, before moving to Los Angeles. Fabian's work began to be admired and purchased, and he was soon snapped up with a publishing contract which made him into a world wide star.

Fabian Perez's carefully rendered oils show a depth of image and character that is both unusual and visually stunning. The figures are haunting, emotional and often reminiscent of a bygone era - although Perez is careful to introduce contemporary elements to his paintings. Painting closely with a great amount of detail and captivating charm, Perez chooses subjects that are enchanting - whether male or female. His paintings tell a story; it is up to his viewer to interpret that story as their mind sees best. Fans of Fabian Perez's work will often comment that is Perez's uncanny ability to capture a fleeting emotional expression; a casual gesture - that draws them into his work.

Fabian Perez also considers his music and his philosophical views to be central to his life; these other arts feed his artistic talent, and constantly provide him with ideas and purpose as a painter.

8. Duncan MacGregor

Born in 1961, Duncan Macgregor (or DMAC) grew up in the Midlands where he still spends a substantial part of the year. Despite living so far inland, he managed to develop a passion for the sea, and spent a highly significant 18 months sailing across the Atlantic and then around the coast of Britain.

Taking his inspiration from the surrounding landscape and of course the sea, Duncan MacGregor is particularly fascinated by the effects of natural light on colour. His distinctive palette conveys the cool yet vibrant shades of sea and sky as they appear in the brilliant light of the sun. Verging on the abstract, his work is characterised by the dense application of richly textured acrylics, which create a sense of spontaneity and unstoppable energy. Since turning professional, Duncan Macgregor has enjoyed considerable success across the UK, displaying his work in both galleries and private collections.

The Creative Day...
At present Duncan MacGregor's life is divided into two geographical areas - Scotland in the summer and Staffordshire for the rest of the year. He loves working in my Scottish studio which is located on the beautiful Isle of Mull. When he's there, Duncan MacGregor starts each day with a dip in the (excruciatingly cold) sea, or in the pond next to his house. He then prepares for the serious business of the day by putting on some music before picking up where he left off the day before. If he doesn’t have a work in progress, Duncan may sit for a while and think about all the great places he has seen in his life, waiting for an idea to hit him. Alternatively Duncan MacGregor might just get the brushes out and start to experiment, which is sometimes useful, but always enjoyable. He also spends one day a week getting some serious exercise.

The Creative Impulse...
Duncan MacGregor has never felt the need to seek out material for his paintings - he simply wakes up every day wanting to paint! He is definitely inspired by nature, and love to experience the countryside at first hand whenever he can. Duncan has also been lucky enough to travel to a great many interesting places his my life, as well as having spent 18 months at sea, and these experiences have all had a profound effect on his work.

9. Paul Jenkins

Paul Jenkins trained at Dudley College of Art during the sixties and has lived in the Black Country most of his life but now lives in Cornwall where he has opened up a gallery. He still fires Raku pottery of his own work at his studios.

Originally Paul Jenkins sculpted in wood but turned his attentions not only to sculpting but also to production. He became skilled in mould making and, at the same time, developed his interest in animals. For a number of years he built up a successful business sculpting and producing garden ornaments – in particular British animals of all types.

Later he turned towards sculpting and manufacturing more delicate and intricate sculpture designed for internal use and learnt another production process – cold cast bronze. As before, he became skilled in this as well as developing his sculpting style. He started with cats, after observing his own pets; and then added dogs, hares, foxes and also the human form to his portfolio. His collection of cats is probably his most remembered work but his versatility has enabled him to be constantly in demand. Some eight years ago he started sculpting Hares and it is for these animals where he has enjoyed most success. His work gets more and more intricate, sometimes quite large providing statement pieces such as his new Boxing Hares and the Dancing Hare. These are very good examples of this as well as his new subject Otters. So far they are available in an upright position and a diving pose but it is expected more will follow!
Recently he has sculpted a trio of Meerkats which in their first year have been very successful.

Currently Paul Jenkins is concentrating on sculpting only and his work may be seen in many galleries. He has also designed and had manufactured very large garden sculptures of Hares in limited editions on one or two. One has recently found its way to Sothebys and sold at a very high price!

10. Paul James

Paul James was born and grew up in Leicestersire. Paul is a self-taught artist who enjoys painting wildlife, animals and landscapes. He started art college but spent most of his time painting and sketching cars at the local Ferrari garage and therefore did not complete the course.

Paul James decided to commit his time to painting professionally in 1986 and experimented with portraits of people, landscapes, birds of prey, sheep and cattle. As Paul James' landscape paintings became popular, he spent time developing a style that he could call his own. Paul and his partner spent much time on their boat touring the UK publishing and selling his work. However, in 2004 the demand for his work became too high and he took up residence in Southern Ireland with a large workshop.

Paul James has been exploring the American Art Market recently and his paintings of animals have become increasingly popular. In later part of 2006 he returned to the USA and also visited Australia and New Zealand. Paul James plans to exhbit his new works later this year.