Neil McBride

Neil McBride is a British Contemporary artist based in Yorkshire. He graduated from Doncaster College of Art in 1970 and went on to enjoy an award winning career in advertising and graphic design before making the decision to become a full time artist in 2010.

Due to his background in commercial art McBride’s initial paintings were overtly commercial in style and subject, which gave way to a desire to produce more imaginative and spontaneous works without a reliance on photographic reference material.

As a confirmed people watcher and music lover he continues to develop his paintings featuring crowds of people which allow him to continually cross over from figuration to semi abstraction; mono to colour; and back again without any loss of spontaneity and continuity. Many traditional painting techniques and methods are employed but the paintings often begin without any preconceived idea of an event or narrative, much like the way many writers allow a novel to evolve on the fly. This helps to maintain a level of intrigue and excitement with every piece. McBride’s crowds are designed to act as triggers to the viewer’s own imagination, often resulting in lively discussions about the narrative content and events portrayed in the paintings.

He has enjoyed particular success in benefit shows in aid of numerous charities including; York Against Cancer at Castle Howard; The Great North Art Show, Ripon Cathedral where he was the best selling artist 2014; Art for Youth North at Queen Mary’s school near Thirsk and The Leeds Open Exhibition, in aid of St Gemma’s Hospice, where he was voted Best Artist in Show by the public.