Darren Baker at the Holly Blue On line Gallery

Narrative
(back to top)

Graduating from Bradford Art College in the summer of 1998, Darren Baker has already established himself as an artist within the celebrity industry.

He has produced an impressive portfolio of sports portraits for clubs and personalities alike. Having developed a relationship with Huddersfield Town, his creativity was stirred into painting a tribute image of Frank Worthington. Inspired by the black and white shots of the Huddersfield forward, he set out to capture a unique portrait.

In August 99 a major exhibition of Darren's work took place at Leeds Civic Hall. The Leeds United Retrospective saw over 30 players represented in oils and pastels, attracting regional and national TV, radio and press attention.

Darren has worked alongside and produced images for such luminaries as David Ginola, Peter Schmiechel, Henrik Larsson, Prince Naseem, Nigel Mansell and Iestyn Harris. Clubs promoting his work include Manchester United, Leeds United, Glasgow Celtic, Bradford City, Yorkshire Cricket, Leeds Rhinos. He has exhibited his paintings in Harrogate, Manchester, Cheltenham, Chichester, Middlesborough, Dumfries, and London as well as venues in his native West Yorkshire.

Contact Details
(back to top)

Artist's Statement
(back to top)

I produce fine artwork ranging in size and media from small to large oil paintings, pastels, pencil drawings and published fine art prints. My work is propelled by my interest in portraiture and representations of the figure. I am concerned largely with sports and entertainment themes, subjects and personalities. I specialise in figures, but I am equally at home with both still life; landscape, genre, epic subjects created for private/public individuals, organisations and galleries.

Qualifications, Training & Work Experience
(back to top)

1998 BA (Hons) Art and Design, Bradford College, Bradford
1999 Gallery curator, Framing Gallery, Leeds
1998 Life Painting, six-month course, Bradford College
1997 Photoworks, one day course, Huddersfield Technical College, Huddersfield

Commissions
(back to top)

1999 Iestyn Harris montage, Tom Carroll & associates
1999 Henrik Larsson montage, Glasgow Celtic A.F.C
1999 Bradford City A.F.C montage, Asics Sportswear
1999 Michael Jordan montage, EBBA Headquarters English Basketball Association
1999 Prince Naseem oil portrait, Prince promotions
1999 Billy Bremner montage, Leeds United A.F.C
1998 Frank Worthington oil portrait, Huddersfield Town A.F.C

Prizes & Awards
(back to top)

1998 First prize, Bradford Open art exhibition
1998 Rossington award in figurative painting, Cleveland Council

Solo Exhibitions
(back to top)

1999 Leeds United Retrospective, Leeds Civic Hall, Leeds
1999 Darren Baker, AC Gallery, Huddersfield
1998 Debut, Drury Lane Gallery, London
1998 Darren Baker, Michael Walker Fine Arts, London

Group Exhibitions
(back to top)

1999 L.U.P.M.A, Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds
1999 Cheltenham Open, Cheltenham and Gloucester College, Cheltenham
1999 Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, Bury Art Gallery, Bury
1998 Chichester Open, Sotheby?s Auction House, Leeds
1998 Middlesborough Open, Cleveland Gallery, Middlesborough
1998 Bradford Open, Cartwright Hall, Bradford
1997 Holmfirth Open, Holmfirth Civic Hall, Holmfirth
1997 Contemporary College, Cubal Cain Foundation, Harrogate

Websites & Slide Libraries
(back to top)

1999 www.sportingstars.com
1999 www.ETI.co.uk
1999 Axis (Visual Arts Information Service)

Critical Reviews & Press/TV/Radio Coverage
(back to top)

Amber Cowan, Metro, Guardian, Nov 1999
Hugh Sleight, The art of football, Match magazine, Oct 1999
Neil Jeffries, Painter Man, Leeds Magazine, Oct 1999
Karen Joyner, Features, Yorkshire Evening Post, Sept 1999
John Woodcock, 'Heroes Stand United', Yorkshire Post, Aug 1999
Ian Dennis, Leeds retrospective, Radio Leeds, Aug 1999
Verity Hughes, Leeds, Leeds, Leeds, Radio Aire, Aug 1999
Look North, 'What's On', BBC North, Aug 1999
Nigel Bunyan, Leeds Retrospective, Daily Telegraph, Aug 1999
Nixon Bashir, Darren Baker, Eastern Eye, Jun 1999
Karen Joyner, Soccer Art is a Winner, Yorkshire Evening Post, Jan 1999
Tony Pogson, Features, Huddersfield Examiner, Jan 1999
Richard Purvis, Art auction, Pulse FM, Jan 1999
Robin Capon, Sporting art, Leisure Painter magazine, Jan 1999

Teaching Experience
(back to top)

Part-time Lecturer, Painting and Drawing (Adult ed), Huddersfield Technical College

Galleries & Retail Outlets
(back to top)

Michael Walker Fine Arts, Devonshire Street, London
Leeds United Banqueting Suite, Leeds United
De Montford Gallery, Leeds
Byram Gallery, Huddersfield
Headrow Gallery, Leeds
White Rose Gallery, Holmfirth