Tim Benson PPROI NEAC RP

Educated at Glasgow School of Art and Byam Shaw School of Art from 1998-2001, contemporary artist Tim Benson is the fomer President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. 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 Benson regularly exhibits in solo and group exhibitions around the UK. He displays fine art portraits that stand on their own as collectible works of art and accordingly has established a large following and collector base.

As well as working in his studio Tim also teaches portraiture at Heatherley's School of Fine Art in Chelsea and at Hampstead School of Art. Tim is based at The Chocolate Factory studios in North London. He regularly invites sitters to the studio and also travels to subjects' own environments to present individuals in their own private settings.

Education

1999 – 2001 Byam Shaw School of Art BA (Hons) – Fine Art
1998 – 1999 Glasgow School of Art First Year, BA (Hons) – Fine Art
1996 – 1997 Middlesex University Foundation Diploma – Fine Art

Employment
2019 - present Portraiture Tutor - Royal Academy of Arts
2015 – present Portraiture Tutor – New School of Art
2012 – present  Portraiture  Tutor – Art Academy
2010 – present Portraiture Tutor – Hampstead School of Art
2010 – present Private Tutor – Oil Painting
2007 – present Portraiture Tutor – Heatherley School of Fine Art, Chelsea

Positions of Responsibility
2018 - present President, Royal Institute of Oil Painters
2016 – present Exhibitions Committee, Mall Galleries 
2015 – 2017 Director, Diploma in Portraiture, Heatherley School of Fine Art, Chelsea
2013 – 2018 Vice President, Royal Institute of Oil Painters
2012-2013 Royal Institute of Oil Painters Steward, Artists’ General Benevolent Institution

Awards
2019 Elected member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters
2018 Elected member of the New English Art Club
2018 Elected President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
2017 ‘The Dartington Crystal Chalice’ for outstanding service to the Royal Institute of Oil Painters - Annual Exhibition, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
2016 ‘Alan Gourley Memorial Award’ for the outstanding work in show – Annual Exhibition, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
2013 ‘Arts Club Charitable Trust Award’ – Annual Exhibition, Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries
2013 Elected Vice President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
2011 Elected Full member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
2011 Elected Associate member 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

Latest Exhibitions
Annual Exhibition - Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries

Selected Solo Exhibitions
2018 Visions of Zambia - Mall Galleries
2016 Faces of Ebola – Mall Galleries
2013 Solo Exhibition – Highgate Contemporary Art
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

2020     
‘The Seventh View’ - Gallery C24, New York
Royal Institute of Oil Painters at Adrian Hill Fine Art, Holt
Contemporary British Portrait Painters ‘Perceptions’ - Cass Art Islington
Royal Society of Portrait Painters at the Watts Gallery
New English Art Club at Chris Beetles Gallery
Annual Exhibition - Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries
Annual Exhibition- New English Art Club, Mall Galleries
Discerning Eye Exhibition
Castlegate Gallery Prize - Castlegate Gallery, Cockermouth
Annual Exhibition- Royal Institute of Oil Painters

2019
The Alexander Collection - Alexander Centre, Faversham
Spring Exhibition - JP Art Gallery, Black Heath
Annual Exhibition - Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries
Annual Exhibition – New English Art Club, Mall Galleries
Discerning Eye Exhibition - Mall Galleries
Annual Exhibition - Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries

2018
Annual Exhibition - Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
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
Annual Exhibition – Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Mall Galleries
‘The ROI paints Greenwich’ - M1 Fine Art, Greenwich
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
20/21 Art fair, RCA – Highgate Contemporary
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 – New English Art Club, Mall Galleries
Portraiture Exhibition – Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
Annual Exhibition – Royal Institute of Oil Painters, 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
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

2001 – 2009    Regular exhibitions at galleries throughout the United Kingdom

Media & Press

03/2018 Artists and Illustrators - ‘5 things I’ve learnt’

03/2018 BBC London Radio ‘The Robert Elms Show’ - Guest

02/2018 The Big Issue - ‘At First Sight’

11/2016 London Live - Interview for ‘Faces of Ebola’

11/2016 The Independent - ‘One year after Sierra Leone was declared Ebola-free, award winning artist Tim Benson presents ‘Faces of Ebola’

02/2016 BBC Local Radio - Interview about portrait commissions

11/2014 Artists and Illustrators magazine – Guest columnist

03/2014 The Artist – Guest columnist

09/2012 Artists and Illustrators – Guest columnist

10/2011 The Artist – Guest columnist

07/2011 Dynamic portraits in Oil with Tim Benson AROI – DVD, TownHouse Films