James Bland (NEAC) is a figurative artist who lives and works in Kent. As an artist, James enjoys the surrender of control that oil painting offers. He develops his ideas in sketchbooks before setting up his compositions in the studio with models and home-made props. His paintings often shift from direct observation to memory and imagination. Inspired by Giorgione and Georges Braque, James allows for departure from the original motif in his paintings. Canvases might be re-stretched, colour schemes might change entirely, locations and figures might be painted in or out, this process gives each painting its distinctive character.

James Bland’s work incorporates diverse approaches to style and subject but he usually begins in drawing and painting from life. His aim is to find an image that resonates through simplicity of colour and form. He likes the idea of painting as a way of telling stories and he finds inspiration in literature as well as visual art.

James holds an MA in Fine Art from Canterbury Christ Church University and has travelled extensively in Italy where he lived between 2005 and 2006. He received the Janet Konstam Travel Award for travel in Italy in 2007 and was made artist in residence at the Centro Verrocchio art school in Tuscany. He was shortlisted for the Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Prize in 2013. Among the many accolades he’s received since then are 1st prize in the The Winsor & Newton Oil Painters Awards at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (2013) and the inaugural Val Harris Prize (2023). James is a member of the New English Art Club and Contemporary British Portrait Painters.

James Bland will be exhibiting his works at Lilford Gallery from the 10th of November, until the 28th of November. If you are local to Canterbury, you might have seen James painting around town in preparation for this show, we now invite you to see his completed paintings, both old and new, all of which showcase James’ distinctive view of life around him and the many elements that shape his work.

Alongside the exhibition James will be hosting an art workshop at the gallery. We invite you to draw inspiration from the works at Lilford Gallery and capture them under James’ guidance. Workshop dates will be announced soon, so keep an eye on our website and our social media!