Julian Bell

Julian Bell has travelled around the world for his art yet he approaches a local street scene with the same curiosity as one in, say, Tehran or Delhi. Sometimes there are touches of humour in his art, at other times fantasy (wistful or otherwise) but over-riding these is a strong sense of humanity as he often depicts, with empathy, ordinary people and everyday lives. ‘I’m not a satirist at all. Things need to kindle feelings in my heart.’ Julian is known for his superb handling of light and perspective. Living in Lewes within the South Downs, he paints his surrounding landscape with equal curiosity.

Julian Bell was born in 1952 and descends from the Bloomsbury Group: his grandmother is Vanessa Bell, his great aunt Virginia Woolf and his father Quentin Bell. Alongside his painting practice he is an author and critic. Books include What Is Painting? and Mirror of the World. Julian teaches at the Royal Drawing School and is editor of Ways of Drawing (Thames & Hudson). Images of his recent solo exhibition When the City is Built can be see in Past Exhibitions Notes from Julian’s gallery talk can be read in What Makes An Artist?