My contemporary paintings are created using miniaturist principles and techniques with meticulous attention to detail. My large oil series should be viewed not only from a distance but also at close range to appreciate the complexity of the work. To achieve the desired effect I use specialised miniaturist brushes and work in translucent layers. Every year I also finish a number of contemporary miniature paintings, which I use as preliminary studies for larger work in the future. These subjects have been very diverse, however one primary theme has been ‘reflections'.
Portraits
Self portrait as commuter, 2015, oil on canvas, 122.5cm x 92cm.
Self portrait as commuter, Stage by stage.
Self Portrait, oil on canvas. 72cm x 63cm. Exhibited at the Mall Galleries in London and featured in 'The Artist Magazine'.
Mr & Mrs Gardiner; oil on canvas board, 66cm x 56.5cm. Selected for the BP Portrait Award 2006 at the National Portrait Gallery in London and subsequently came second in the visitors choice. This painting has featured in numerous publications and press releases. In 2011 it was also included in the book '500 Portraits'.
Uncle Joe; oil on canvas board 77.5cm x 67cm. Exhibited at the New English Art Club Annual Exhibition London, also received the RMS Presidents
Special Commendation For Large Work Award, and featured in the 'Artist & illustrators Magazines' 250 issue.
Detail from the Uncle Joe painting.
Andrew with Revolver, oil on canvas, 41cm x 35cm. Exhibited at the Mall Galleries and also featured on the front cover of ‘The Artist Magazine’ in October 2010.
Kc; oil on canvas board, 58cm x 48cm. Exhibited at the Royal Society Of Portrait Painters Annual
Exhibition in London and also the RMS Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries.
Featured in The Artist & Illustrators magazine.
Mr & Mrs Gardiner with Kc, 100cm x 82cm, pencil drawing.
Miniatures
John on his allotment , oil on canvas 10cm x 8cm. Exhibited at the RMS annual
exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London 2016.
Side view showing 3D effect.
Side view showing 3D effect.
Reflection with the view of St Paul's, oil on canvas 10cm x 8cm. Exhibited at the RMS annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London 2015 - Received the Anthony J Lester Art Critic Award. Exhibiting in the Hilliard Society annual exhibition 2016 - Awarded the Sue Burton Memorial Award for best in show and the Visitors Most Popular Exhibit Award 2016. Featured in the Aesthetica Magazine Art Directory (Dec-Jan 2017)
Reflection with the view of Tower Bridge, oil on canvas 10cm x 8cm. Exhibited at the RMS annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London 2015.
Dieu et mon droit, oil on canvas, 9.5cm x 7.5cm. Awarded The RMS Presidents Special Commendation 2013.
An indication of the size of 'Dieu et mon droit'
Girl in a Regent street window 1, oil on canvas 9.8cm x 7.8cm. Exhibited at the Mall Galleries in London and also in the Art Critics Circle Secrets Centenary Exhibition 2013. Winner of The Marion Winter Künstler Award 2014. Exhibited at the MASF annual exhibition 2016, USA - Received the 'Best Work By A First Time Artist Award'. Exhibiting in the Hilliard Society annual exhibition 2016. MPSGS in Washington DC, at The Mansion at Strathmore, USA, 2016. The Aesthetica Magazine Art Directory (Dec-Jan 2017).
Featured in an article in The Saturday Times Newspaper UK, 20th October 2012.
Girl in a Regent street window 2, oil on canvas 9.8cm x 7.8cm. Exhibited at the Mall Galleries in London 2012. The Art Critics Circle Secrets Centenary Exhibition 2013. The MASF Annual Exhibition 2016, USA. MPSGS in Washington DC, at The Mansion at Strathmore, USA, 2016.
Girl in a Regent street window 3, oil on canvas 9.8cm x 7.8cm. Exhibited at the Mall Galleries in London 2012. The Art Critics Circle Secrets Centenary Exhibition 2013. The MASF Annual Exhibition 2016, USA. MPSGS in Washington DC, at The Mansion at Strathmore, USA, 2016.
Reflection from the Portrait Restaurant, oil on canvas 10cm x 8cm. Exhibited at the Mall Galleries in London 2011 & 2015. Winner of the prestigious RMS Mundy Sovereign Portrait Award 2011. Exhibited in the Art Critics Circle Secrets Centenary Exhibition 2013. First in Oil Award MASF, Leepa- Rattner museum of art, USA 2017.
An indication of the size of 'Reflection from the Portrait Gallery'.
Reflection 4, oil on canvas, 9.5cm x 7.5cm This painting was awarded the RMS prestigious 'Gold Memorial Bowl Award' 2010.
'Reflection 4' is now part of the Sue Lee collection of contemporary miniature art.
Shop Window 3, oil on canvas 9.5cm x 7.5cm. Exhibited at the RMS Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London 2009.
Summer Beat, oil on canvas 10cm x 8cm. Exhibited at the RMS Annual Exhibition at the Mall Gallery in London 2010.
Sunday Stroll, oil on canvas, 9.5cm x 7.5cm. Exhibited at the RMS Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London 2010.
Potato Eaters, oil on canvas, 9.5cm x 7.5cm, 2013. Exhibited at the Mall Galleries, London.
Reflection, oil on canvas 10cm x 8cm. Exhibited at the Mall Galleries in London 2008/2016 - Received the RMS Gold Memorial Bowl Honourable Mention Award. Also exhibited in the Art Critics Circle Secrets Centenary Exhibition 2013.
Déjá Vu, oil on canvas 10cm x 8cm. Exhibited at the RMS Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London 2008 and also in the Art Critics Circle secrets Centenary Exhibition 2013.
Flying Duck; 1, 11 and 111, oil on canvas,10cm x 8cm. Exhibited at the Mall Galleries RMS Annual Exhibition 2011.
Books - Magazine features - Newspaper articles
'Girl in a Regent street window 1' featured in an article in The Times Newspaper.
My 'Face Value' article in the 250 issue of the Artist & illustrators magazine - showcasing the technique used to paint 'Mr Joseph Ridge'.
'Andrew with Revolver' on the front cover of The Artist Magazine.
My 'Small miracles' article in The Artist Magazine.
The continuation of the 'Small miracles' article that demonstrates my miniature techniques.
'Mr & Mrs Gardiner' featured in the '500 Portraits' book.
'Reflection from the Portrait Restaurant" featuered in the RMS catalogue.
Featured in the 'WHO'S WHO IN ART' 36th Edition book, published by Morven Press 2014.
'Reflection with the view of St Paul's featured in the Hilliard Societies Annual International Art Exhibition catalogue 2016.
Iain Gardiner Biography
BORN: England 1969
EDUCATION
Matriculation exemption, Sea point Boys High School, 1987.
Graduated in Graphic Design, University of Cape Town, 1988 - 1991
ART AWARDS
First Oil (MASF) 2017
The Hilliard Society Visitors Most Popular Exhibit Award 2016
The Hilliard Society Sue Burton Memorial Award for Best in Show 2016
Best Work By A First Time Artist (MASF) USA, 2016
The Anthony J Lester Art Critic Award 2007, 2015
The Marion Winter Künstler Award 2014
The RMS Presidents Special Commendation 2013
The Mundy Sovereign Portrait Award 2011
The RMS Gold Memorial Bowl 2010
The RMS Presidents Special Commendation Award For Large Work 2009
The RMS Gold Memorial Bowl Honourable Mention 2007-2008
BP Portrait Award 2006 finalist (2nd place with the visitors choice)
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
MASF, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, 2017
MPSGS in Washington DC, at The Mansion at Strathmore, USA, 2016
Hilliard Society Annual Exhibition, Wells, UK, 2016
Miniature Art Society of Florida Annual Exhibition, USA, 2016
The Royal Society Of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers (2007- 2016) The Mall Galleries, London
The Art Critics Circle's Secrets Centenary Exhibition 2013, The Mall Galleries, London
The 125th New English Art Club Exhibition 2011,The Mall Galleries, London
The New English Art Club Exhibition 2010, The Mall Galleries, London
The Royal Society of Portrait Painters 2007, The Mall Galleries, London
Royal West of England Academy (2006-7)
Aberdeen Art Gallery (2006)
BP Portrait Award 2006, National Portrait Gallery, London
WORKS IN COLLECTIONS
The Sue Lee Collection of contemporary Miniature Art
Numerous other private collections around the world
PUBLICATIONS
BOOKS
Who’s Who In Art 37th Edition, Morven Press 2016
Who’s Who In Art 36th Edition, Morven Press 2014
500 Portraits, National Portrait Publications 2011
BP Portrait Award 2006
CATALOGUES
MASF Catalogue 2016-2017
Hillliard Society Catalogue 2016
RMS Catalogues 2007- 2016
Mall Galleries Catalogue Jul-Dec 2013
The Royal Society of Portrait Painters 2007
MAGAZINES
Aesthetica Magazine Art Directory (Dec-Jan 2017)
Galleries Magazine, October 2013
Arts industry, November 2012
The Artist Magazine, October 2010, (Featured on the front cover)
Artist & Illustrators Magazine, July 2007, (The 250th issue)
NEWSPAPERS
The Saturday Times Newspaper (12 Oct 2012)
Numerous local newspapers
ONLINE
Aesthetica Magazine Art Directory (Dec-Jan 2017)
ArtnSpire
London calling (21 October 2013)
Wall Street International Magazine (10 June 2013)
Kensington and Chelsea Today
Richmond & Twickenham Times (7 Oct 2007)
SOCIETIES
Council member of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters and Gravers