BIOGRAPHY

Nick Bashall is one of England’s leading portrait painters.

Born in England and raised in Zimbabwe, Nick returned to the UK to study law at Cambridge – where he was also the heavyweight boxing blue. A stint in London with one of the big solicitors’ firms preceded six years working in Pakistan and Dubai, saving up the money to study painting full time. He then trained under the Spanish maestro Joaquin Torrents Llado in Majorca for five years before becoming a full time artist in London in 1997.

Now, nearly twenty five years later he has earned a reputation as a prolific portrait artist. His many illustrious commissions include: HRH Princess Anne, Bill Powers President of the University of Texas, HRH Princess Michael of Kent and the former head of the British army General Sir Michael Jackson. He is also renowned for his portraits of children, in both oil and charcoal. In addition Nick has a couple of intriguing side shows. As a war artist, he’s painted on the streets of Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq in front of hundreds of locals – guarded by the British Army.

He regularly performs as a painter at Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party and Wilderness. These festivals provide him with a large tent where he and some of his former students paint festival goers from life accompanied by DJs.

Nick has painted live alongside Nicky Philipps for a number of private events bringing an audience inside the mesmerising bohemia of figurative painting. With music and drinks in hand audiences are invited to watch as an image comes to life in oil on canvas in two hours. Do get in touch with him if you would be interested in hiring them to perform at an event.

“Nick paints his portraits from life and always nails the likeness. The two hour sittings are almost too short as one is immersed in a timeless atmosphere with an artist whose company is universally enjoyed.  He has been known to play cricket in the passage with his (younger) sitters and places a mirror behind him so they see their face magically appear.  Whether you are painted by Nick, or join his class, you are in for a real treat.”

—  Sara Stewart

 

For more information about Nick please visit his website: Nick Bashall