Mike Bernard RI

Born in Kent in 1957 award winning Mike Bernard trained at the West Surrey College of Art & Design, Farnham, followed by postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy Schools. Since then he has exhibited widely in London and the provinces. The artist was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour in 1997. He moved to Devon in 2008 where he has been inspired by the amazing light Mike Bernard enjoys experimenting with media and techniques, often using mixed media incorporating collage and acrylics. Mike Bernard has used paper collage for several years and has developed a highly original and appealing style of his own. As a base to his paintings it has allowed him to create abstract structures that in turn develop into those “happy accidents” which come about from time to time. Random textures, colours and shapes suddenly fall into place. This method allows picture to evolve their own personality as they progress, which avoids them becoming over-representational.

AWARDS

Elizabeth Greenshields Fellowship 1981 and 1987 (Royal Academy)
David Murray Studentship 1978/80/81 (Royal Academy)
1ST Prize Stowells Trophy 1981 (Royal Academy)
British Institute Prize (Royal Academy)
Lanseer Prize (Royal Academy)
Highly Commended Award 1990 Silver Longboat Exhibition, Portsmouth City Art Gallery.
Laing Landscape Painting Award 1993
R. I. Exhibition Mall Galleries London
Kingsmead Gallery Award 1999
Stuart Defries Award 2003
Lincoln Joyce Gallery Award 2007
The Ranelagh Press Award RI 2009
Dry Red Press Award 2018