Curriculum Vitae
Mike Bell
based in Hexham, North East
Artist Statement
Inspired by 30 years living and working on the Northumberland coast and now in the wilds of Redesdale, near Scottish Borders. Fascinated by patterns of sand on beach, piles of seaweed/driftwood order and chaos together. Images I create use a wide range of materials, sand, soil coal dust, driftwood are often embedded in paint surface[Antonio Tapies been Favourite for long time] I want paintings to be as natural as possible. Rarely use brush but finger, knife, trowel, sand, spray paints plus lots of builders materials to create impasto surfaces. Experimenting with Holographic foils in paint to simulate wonderful light in Northumberland. Moving to Redesdale I have been inspired and become aware of the interaction of man and nature, in the Otterburn Ranges military roads, bunkers and old tanks contrast with crags, quarries, moorland and forest to create a wonderful tapestry at different times of year. Rock strata, strange cloud formations, moody sunsets, reflections in rivers and Lakes have me rushing for sketch book or camera. "The Land of Far Horizons" Northumberland has light which enhances the tactile quality of the landscape no matter what the season. I hope my work stimulates a wide range of perceptions and feelings for this "Land of Far Horizons" Other influences/artists I admire include Turner, John Blockley, Andy Goldsworthy, Cezanne, Tapies and many more.



Qualifications and training
1966 Sunderland College Art / Design (now Univ), Sunderland
1966 Dip.AD Hons Art & Design, Sunderland College of Art & Design, Sunderland

Competitions, prizes and awards
1965 Queens Award Travelling Scholarship To Italy, Sunderland Colege Art / Design, Sunderland

Teaching experience - secondary
1970 Head of Art/Design Department (1970-88), Hylton Redhose Comp. School, Sunderland
1970 Area Moderator / Examiner - Cse/Gcse Art / Design , NEA Exam Board, Newcastle and Manchester

Teaching experience - tertiary
1988 Lecturer in Charge Art / Design (Creative Arts Department), Wearside College of FE (1988-96), Sunderland

Workshops
2001 Mixed Media / Watercolour Workshops (from 2001-ongoing), Art Centres / Art Clubs North East Area, including Northumberland, East Lothian, Washington, Durham

Selected solo exhibitions
2006 April Mixed Media Landscapes, Gossipgate gallery, Alston, Cumbria
2006 Seascapes/Landscapes of Northumberland Mike Bell & Mick Oxley, Calder Gallery, Hebdon Bridge, Yorkshire
2005 Mixed Media Paintings, Theatre Gallery, Ouees Hall Arts Centre, Hexham Northumberland
2005 Mixed Media Paintings, Calder Gallery, Hebdon Bridge Yorkshire
2005 Rhythms & Textures of Northumberland, Gossipgate Gallery, Alston, Cumbria
2005 Rhythms & Textures of Northumberland, Coningsby Gallery, London
2004 Rhythms & Textures of Northumberland, Bondgate Gallery, Alnwick
2004 Rhythms & Textures of Northumberland, Duchess Gallery, Kielder Castle Northumberland
2004 Mixed Media Paintings & Prints, The Gallery, Village Bakery Melmerby Cumbria 2004 & 2005

Selected group exhibitions
2006 Invited Artists, The Art Chain Gallery, Blaydon on Tyne
2006 April "Opening Exhibition", Brownston Gallery, Modbury, Devon
2006 Feb/March Open Art Competition (Juried Selection), Black Swan Art Centre, Frome, Somerset
2006 Feb New Opening Invited Artists, The Picture House Gallery, Harrogate Yorkshire UK
2006 Feb 2006 Palm Art Award International Exhibition, Art-Domain Gallery, Liepzig Germany
2006 Invited International Artists, Marziart Gallerie Internationale, Hamburg, Germany
2005 Coastal Views Invited Artists, Minster Fine Art Gallery, York, N Yorkshire
2005 Invited Artists Of Northumberland, Pinfold Gallery, Bowness on Windemere
2005 Invited Artists, Art Cafe Gallery, Corbridge
2005 Invited Artists, Walker Contemporary Fine Art Gallery, Harrogate
2005 Invited Artists, Biscuit Factory, Newcastle upon Tyne
2005 Invited Artists, Scotlandart.com, Edinburgh gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland
2005 Invited Artists, John Green Fine Art, Glasgow
2005 "The Four Elements" 5 Artists Festival Exhibition, St Leonards Gallery, Edinburgh
2005 Glasgow Art Fair 10th Year (Rep .by John Green Fine Art), George Square, Glasgow
2005 Invited Artists June/July 2005, Biscuit Factory, Newcastle
2005 Summer Exhibition 2005, John Green Fine Art Gallery, Glasgow
2005 Blues on The Moors, Grosmont Gallery, Whitby, N Yorkshire
2005 Invited Artists, Karen Taylor Fine Art Gallery, Twickenham, London
2004 Invited Artists, Fifiefofum Gallery & Art Centre, Newton Northumberland
2004 Summer Exhibition, Pinfold Gallery, Bowness on Windemere
2004 Beyond Words (Juried Exhibition), Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle
2003 Art into Art (Juried Exhibition), Hatton Gallery, Univ of Newcastle upon Tyne
2003 Invited Artists 2003 / 2004, Biscuit Factory Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne
2003 RSPC Charity Exhibition, The Baltic, Gateshead
2003 Invited Artists 2003 /04 /05, Art Cafe Gallery, Corbridge, Northumberland
2001 Small Works, University of Northumbria Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne
2001 Invited Artista, Dial Gallery, Warkworth Norhumberland
1999 Mixed Media Artists, Globe Gallery, North Shields
1998 Summer Invited Artists, Bondgate Gallery, Alnwick Northumberland
1970 Pernod Open Exhibition (Juried), Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle Upon Tyne
1965 Northern Young Contemporaries, Whitworth Gallery, Manchester