Mike Skidmore

Mike has only ever been interested in oils, primarily because they are tactile and forgiving enough for experimentation. He still learning and long may that continue.

Mike considers himself self-taught. Art schools in his day didn’t encourage the type of work he wanted to do, and he didn’t know anyone to teach him the techniques he needed to learn. Mike spent many hours in galleries staring at classical paintings and trying to work out how they had been painted. After a number of frustrating years, and many canvasses thrown in the bin, he began to make headway and develop the techniques he uses today.

“I love evocative shadow and light, portraits with character, and sometimes a narrative running through the picture. I also enjoy adding a little humour or trompe l’oeil into my still life artworks.”

Mike’s paintings take time to complete, as he works in layers of transparent glazes for shadows and impasto for lighter areas. A portrait can take several months, and a still life a number of weeks plus drying time.