Ian Hargreaves

Ian was born in Blackpool in 1957 and studied at Bournemouth College of Art. With the wanderlust of youth he set off for Europe aged 21where he travelled for many months recording his experiences in watercolour, it heralded the beginning of a love affair with Mediterranean subjects and their purity of light.

On his return he settled in London and carved out a career as a portrait painter of great acclaim, completing over 3000 commissions. This was followed by a stint in Palermo, Sicily where, once again his talents in portraiture were much sought after.

Having met his wife he settled in Germany where he lived and exhibited for the next 24 years, showing in Munich, Salzburg and in galleries across Austria. He also completed many murals for top end hotels across Bavaria.

Since returning to England in 2008 he has shown paintings at the Royal Academy, the Royal Institute of Painters in Oil, the Royal Society of Marine Artists and at the Mall Galleries where he won the prestigious Artist of the Year in 2016.

Other achievements include twice being accepted for the prestigious Lynn-Painter-Stainers Prize at the Mall Galleries.

Currently his work can be seen in various west end galleries in London, Bath, Chichester, Cardiff, Stow on the Wold and in many public and private collections worldwide.