Gordon King
Born 6th June 1939, Gordon spent most of his early childhood on the Fife coast of Scotland before moving south of the border to Reading in Berkshire. As a child his talent came to the fore early on, winning several major art competitions from the age of seven. After leaving school he concentrated on figurative illustration, undergoing training at Carlton Studios in London whilst studying life drawing and painting at Reading University.
In his early 20s he went freelance, illustrating for major magazines and advertising agencies. Gradually he built up the commission side of his work by painting portraits and exhibiting his work until in the mid 70s he gave up illustration work altogether to enable him to concentrate full-time on his paintings which at that time were predominantly in oils. Success came quite rapidly, showing at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions in London and later at the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, painting mostly figurative subjects.
In 1995, his first book "A Romance with Art" was published, with a forward by HRH The Princess Royal, featuring a wide range of his oils and watercolours. Gordon lives and works in his studio in Buckinghamshire which provides the backdrop for many of his paintings. He exhibits worldwide and has been featured painting live on a number of television programmes including the BBC2 arts series "Close-Up", Channel 5's "Open House" and Sky Sports at the PGA short course championships.
In 1999 to celebrate his 60th birthday, Gordon's second book "Drawn To Life" was published featuring paintings from his exhibition at the Halcyon Gallery in the ICC, Birmingham. In addition, he received a prestigious award from the Fine Art Trade Guild who voted him "Published Artist of the Year". He also had a painting accepted into the Singer & Friedlander Sunday Times Watercolour Competition which exhibited in London before touring the country
In his early 20s he went freelance, illustrating for major magazines and advertising agencies. Gradually he built up the commission side of his work by painting portraits and exhibiting his work until in the mid 70s he gave up illustration work altogether to enable him to concentrate full-time on his paintings which at that time were predominantly in oils. Success came quite rapidly, showing at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions in London and later at the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, painting mostly figurative subjects.
In 1995, his first book "A Romance with Art" was published, with a forward by HRH The Princess Royal, featuring a wide range of his oils and watercolours. Gordon lives and works in his studio in Buckinghamshire which provides the backdrop for many of his paintings. He exhibits worldwide and has been featured painting live on a number of television programmes including the BBC2 arts series "Close-Up", Channel 5's "Open House" and Sky Sports at the PGA short course championships.
In 1999 to celebrate his 60th birthday, Gordon's second book "Drawn To Life" was published featuring paintings from his exhibition at the Halcyon Gallery in the ICC, Birmingham. In addition, he received a prestigious award from the Fine Art Trade Guild who voted him "Published Artist of the Year". He also had a painting accepted into the Singer & Friedlander Sunday Times Watercolour Competition which exhibited in London before touring the country