Gordon King (b. 1939) was born on the Fife coast of Scotland.
Gordon spent much of his early life in Reading, 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 and became a Member of the Society of Industrial Artists (MSIAD), 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.
His paintings of girls in natural surroundings soon became his trade mark and the popularity of the watercolours in the early 80s together with the success of his prints, limited editions and silk-screens brought him the high profile that he has today.
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. A second edition followed later.
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 with the P.G.A.
Gordon’s second book “Drawn To Life” was published in 1999. 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.
He has supported various charities over the years including projects for the Save the Children Fund, the NSPCC and the BBC’s “Children in Need” appeal (when he painted a portrait in front of a live audience). A commissioned painting of the Golf at Brocket Hall was auctioned for the Bob Wilson Willow Foundation. He has also painted many celebrity portraits including Sir Norman Wisdom, Gloria Hunniford, Ann Widdecombe, Tim Henman, Tony Jacklin, Katherine Jenkins and the legendary actress Patricia Neal on the Queen Mary 2.
Recent projects include three limited edition prints of Darcey Bussell in aid of The Alzheimer’s Society, a collection of paintings of Angels for the Caron Keating Foundation and a painting of Status Quo which was auctioned at Bonhams in aid of The Prince’s Trust.
Gordon King has long been regarded as one of the country’s most popular contemporary artists working in watercolours, oils and acrylics. His paintings have been admired and collected at numerous one-man exhibitions both in the U.K. and abroad.
Gordon’s ability to portray his subjects with a delightful delicacy and atmosphere has earned him considerable acclaim throughout the art world.
