Artists 

Graham Dean was born in Birkenhead, Merseyside. From 1968-1973 he studied at the Laird School of Art, Birkenhead and at Bristol Polytechnic. From 1975-1998 he was the recipient of a variety of grants and awards from arts associations. In particular, in 1991 he received the Senior Abbey Award in Painting at the British School in Rome. In 2000 he travelled to Trivandrum, Southern India for an I.C.C.D. studio residency and in 2003 he received a Travel Award from the Arts Council England and an International Fellowship award at the Vermont Studio Center, USA.

Graham is a contemporary painter of international renown whose works are exhibited extensively in the UK and abroad. His work has also featured in videos, films, books and musical events and collaborations. His work is held in collections worldwide including Arts Council, V&A Museum National Gallery of Jamaica, Forbes Foundation - New York, Peter Gabriel/Real World studios, Glasgow Museum of Modern Art, David Geffen, L.A. Musik-Und Kongresshalle, Lubeck.

The choice of colours and contrasts is important to Graham Dean; like the English landscape painter John Constable, the use of red accentuates the dramatic effect of green and yellow. The application of glazes (multiple, transparent layers) create intensity and depth, as in Rothko. The juxtaposition of complimentary colours creates strong, theatrical works. The artist illuminates his figures in the manner of a filmmaker, pointing to body parts, which are also found in the videos of the artist. (Adapted from an article by Galerie Maubert, Paris. September 2011)