Featured Artist of the Month - Mike Bernard

Mike Bernard trained at the West Surrey College of Art and Design, Farnham followed by post graduate studies at the Royal Academy Schools. Since then he has exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Mall Galleries, Royal Festival Hall and many other galleries in London and the provinces. Among the prizes and awards he has gained for his paintings are: The Stowells Trophy, The Elizabeth Greenshield Fellowship, The Silver Longboat Award and The Laing Award. Mike was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour (RI) in 1997.

At the 1999 RI Exhibition at the Mall Galleries he was awarded The Kingsmead Gallery Award. Mike enjoys experimenting with different media and techniques, often using mixed media incorporating collages and acrylics. He also uses oil and watercolour. Within his paintings he tries to develop exciting textures and light combining these qualities into original semi-abstract images of landscapes. seascapes, street scenes. still life and figurative compositions.

"We have a collection of Mike's work, from £1200 to £3250 all of which are mixed media. My favourite is his picture of Staithes, bright and cheerful creating powerful memories of visits to this Yorkshire Coastal town" said Jill Rhatigan