Ben Jeffery

Ben’s diverse portfolio boasts a range of subject matter, from portraits and icons to landscapes and cityscapes.

His love of sci-fi and special effects in film and video games is apparent in his vivid colour palette and modern aesthetic.

Ben’s earliest inspiration was renowned watercolour artist of the 18^th Century, John Varley, who is in fact related to the Jeffery family.

His interest in art intensified during secondary school when he would draw portraits of his classmates and compare them with his friends. This was purely for enjoyment until Ben’s portrait of his father for mock GCSE was recognised and appreciated by all.

Although he did go on to study art at a degree level, he believes his distinct technique was mostly self taught. His detailed and colourful work was created through trial and error and was initially not very well received by his tutors but caught the attention of his peers, it was then he started to refine his technique.

Ben discovered new ways to control his oil paint to get the mark making he desired. He has a unique process whereby he first paints his entire canvas in base colours and then goes on to add detail, choosing colours on the spot. Although he may have a basic composition in mind, he lets his brush come up with the shapes and the painting will evolve as he paints. He will then sleep on it and revisit his work with fresh eyes to see if any changes need to be made.

After finishing university, Ben wanted to become a concept artist in the film and video game industry and tried his hand at digital painting but he felt it lacked the depth and feel of oil painting. It is clear to see that he is still inspired by this type of imagery. His other inspiration comes from surrounding views and occasional photographs he may capture himself. With his parent’s houses in the Herefordshire countryside and the Isle of Harris there is no shortage of inspiration for him so we can expect to see a lot more from this talented artist.