Biographical Details
Tim Benson was educated at Glasgow School of Art and Byam Shaw School of Art from 1998-2001. As a practised figurative artist Tim not only creates a distinguishable likeness of a subject but moreover evokes the sitter’s character and mood. He is never satisfied with simple representation, rather concentrating on bringing to his work an emotive and often visceral quality.
Tim regularly exhibits in solo and group exhibitions around the UK. He displays fine art paintings that stand on their own as collectable works of art and accordingly has established a large following and collector base. In addition to his fine art pieces, he accepts more formal portrait and figurative commissions in oil or charcoal.
Tim was elected President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, and a member of the New English Art Club in 2018
Scholarships, Awards, Prizes
2021 The Peter Ashley Framing Prize, New English Art Club
2018: Joint Winner of The Doreen McIntosh Prize, New English Art Club
Elected member of the New English Art Club
2017: The Darlington Crystal Chalice for outstanding service and contribution to the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
2016: ‘Alan Gourley Memorial Award’ for the outstanding work in show – Annual Exhibition, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
2013: Elected Vice President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
Awarded the ‘Arts Club Charitable Trust Award’, Annual Exhibition, Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries
2011: Elected Full member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
Elected Associate of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
2010: Second prize – Winsor & Newton Young Artist Award, Annual Exhibition, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
2004: Third prize, Winsor & Newton Young Artist Award, Annual Exhibition, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
Other Society Memberships
Royal Institute of Oil Painters
Royal Society of Portrait Painters
Teaching & Positions of Responsibility
2017: Judge, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Biennial Portraiture Competition
2016-: Exhibitions Committee, Mall Galleries
2015-2017: Director, Diploma in Portraiture, Heatherley School of Fine Art, Chelsea
2014-2015: Co-Director, Diploma in Portraiture, Heatherley School of Fine Art, Chelsea
2014-: Portraiture tutor, The New School of Art, Lewes
2013-: Portraiture tutor, The Art Academy, Southwark
2010-: Portraiture tutor, Hampstead School of Art, Private tutor, Oil Painting
2007-: Portraiture tutor, Heatherley School of Fine Art, Chelsea
Exhibitions
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2018: Visions of Zambia - Mall Galleries
2016: Faces of Ebola – Mall Galleries
2013: Solo show – Highgate Contemporary
2012: Small Paintings – Island Fine Arts
2008: East Anglian Landscapes – Highgate Fine Art
2007: British Landscapes – Rafael Valls, Mayfair
2006: Aspects of the Subcontinent – Highgate Fine Art
2003: British Skyscapes – Lauderdale House
Selected Group Exhibitions
2018
Annual Exhibition - New English Art Club, Mall Galleries
Annual Exhibition - Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries
2017
Annual Exhibition- Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
‘My Favourite Subject’ - M1 Fine Art, Greenwich
Annual Exhibition- New English Art Club, Mall Galleries
Annual Exhibition- Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries
2016
‘The ROI Paints Greenwich’ - M1 Fine Art, Greenwich
Annual Exhibition – Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
Annual Exhibition – Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries
2015
Annual Exhibition – Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
Annual Exhibition – New English Art Club, Mall Galleries
Portraiture Today – Gibberd Gallery, Harlow
50 Children 50 Artists – The Courtyard, Hoxton
Annual Exhibition – Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries
Group show – CO2 Gallery
Tim Benson and Lachlan Goudie, New Paintings – Mall Galleries
Group Show – HayHill Gallery
2014
Annual Exhibition – Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
Annual Exhibition – New English Art Club, Mall Galleries
Beyond White Walls – Gallery Argentum
Discerning Eye Exhibition – Mall Galleries
50 Children 50 Artists – Winton Capital
Group show – McNeill Fine Art
Annual Exhibition – Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries
Group show – CO2 Gallery
Little Gems – Mall Galleries
Portraits Today – Milton Gallery, St.Paul’s School
2013
Annual Exhibition – Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
Annual Exhibition – New English Art Club, Mall Galleries
Affordable Art Fair, Hampstead Heath - Highgate Contemporary
Annual Exhibition – Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries
Affordable Art Fair, New York – Blue Tomato Gallery
Annual Exhibition – Royal Society of British Artists, Mall Galleries
2012
Affordable Art Fair, Hampstead Heath – Highgate Contemporary
Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Park – Panter and Hall
Annual Exhibition – Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
BP Portrait Award – The National Portrait Gallery
Annual Exhibition – Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries
Group show – Highgate Contemporary
2011
Annual Exhibition – Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
‘Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Competition’, Kings Place Gallery, Kings Place, London
Affordable Art Fair, Hampstead Heath – Highgate Contemporary Art
Summer Exhibition – Picturecraft Gallery, Holt, Norfolk
Summer Miscellany – Highgate Contemporary Art
Two Artist show – Highgate Contemporary Art
Annual Exhibition – Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries
Breath of Fresh Air – Byard Art, Cambridge
2010
Annual Exhibition – Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
Two Artists – Hay Hill Gallery, Cork Street
Two Artists – Island Fine Arts, Isle of Wight
Group Show – Highgate Contemporary Art
Cambridge Art Fair – Enid Lawson Gallery, Marylebone
Summer Show – Highgate Contemporary Art
Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Park – Island Fine Arts and Enid Lawson Gallery
2009
Annual Exhibition – Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
Three Artists: Landscapes – Island Fine Arts
Changing Hang – Enid Lawson Gallery, Marylebone
Affordable Art Fair, Bristol – Enid Lawson Gallery
Cambridge Art Fair – Enid Lawson Gallery
Summer Show – Highgate Fine Art
Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Park – Enid Lawson Gallery and Island Fine Arts
Harrogate Art Fair – Enid Lawson Gallery
Edinburgh Art Fair – Enid Lawson Gallery
2008
Annual Exhibition – Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
Antiques for the Future –Norman Adams, Knightsbridge
British Antique Dealers’ Association fair, Chelsea
Summer show – Highgate Fine Art
Summer show – Island Fine Arts, Isle of Wight
Summer landscapes – Thompson’s, Aldeburgh
Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Park – Island Fine Arts
Noel Noel – Highgate Fine Art Gallery
2007
Annual Exhibition – Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries
Annual Exhibition – Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
Cultural Expo – Pakistan High Commission, London
Summer show – Highgate Fine Art
Charity Exhibition – The Canterbury Oast Trust
Noel Noel – Highgate Fine Art
2006
Annual Exhibition – Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries
Noel Noel – Highgate Fine Art
2005
Noel Noel – Highgate Fine Art
2004
Annual Exhibition – Thompson’s City
New Landscapes – Thompson’s City
Noel Noel – Highgate Fine Art
2003
Annual Exhibition – Thompson’s City
Three New Artists – CCA Galleries, Mayfair
Changing Hang – Thompson’s City
Commission – Le Meridien Hotel, London
Group Exhibition – Karen Taylor Gallery, Twickenham
September Show – Thompson’s Marylebone
Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Park – Thompson’s
Christmas Show – Catto Gallery, Hampstead
2002
Past Masters – Stroud House Gallery, Gloucestershire
Fresh Art – Business Design Centre, Islington
Group Exhibition – Fairfax Gallery, Tunbridge-Wells
Group Exhibition – Moreton Contemporary, Pimlico
2001
Braving the Elements – Vertigo Gallery, Hoxton`