Noel Bensted

Noel Bensted is known for the filmatic way in which he paints his pictures, a particular piece he has done, called 'Between rounds' shows this, it centres around a boxing ring and manages to capture a moving image of the fighters, in one still shot, whilst still managing to incorporate, aspects of movement. His paintings are able to pick up the slightest hint of colour, with mixtures of blues, greens, and yellows blended amongst the skin colour of his muses.

Noel Bensted’s subjects are the young men and women who socialise in the cities of Europe and Cuba. His paintings are peopled with the young of today, dressed in contemporary clothing with all the edginess of urban life. With a fearless approach to the canvas, not to be intimidated by architectural interiors and complex grouping of models, nor tempted to take the easy route when depicting the human figure. These paintings sparkle with vitality, from the thriving activity of the Café Florian with the waiter ‘spinning’ his way through the tables, to the gentle contemplative studies of his single portraits.

Bensted is known for the filmatic way in which he paints his pictures, a particular piece he has done, called 'Between rounds' shows this, it centres around a boxing ring and manages to capture a moving image of the fighters, in one still shot, whilst still managing to incorporate, aspects of movement. His paintings are able to pick up the slightest hint of colour, with mixtures of blues, greens, and yellows blended amongst the skin colour of his muses.

Noel always paints live from his models, although time consuming, this adds the edge of something believable, that is required as an artist. He prefers to capture his models in a natural moment, instead of choreographed poses, changing natural light through changing seasons. His paintings either feature a mass of people, and buzz with the life of City, containing dramatic swashes of rich colours, that represent a bustling, lively environment or intimate portraits of couples and single portraits also.

Noel continues to display the vitality of his paintings as he selects his subjects from a wide range of subjects from a wide range of sources, Cuba, the boxing ring, the dance studio and urban life of young people.

He is fearless in his approach to the canvas, not allowing himself to be intimidated by architectural interiors and complex grouping of models, nor is he tempted to take the easy route when depicting the human figure. Noel relishes the challenge of a complex yet powerful pose; this can be seen from his accomplished painting Ballerina Stretching. The exuberance of his paintings does not rely on a vibrant colour palette, but on a determination to allow his painterly abilities to be liberated, and not confine to clichéd imagery and presentation.

The single portraits show intimacy and the softer side of his paintbrush. Using cool colours in the background, he focuses all his attention on the detail in the faces of his portraits. Capturing the mood of the person through tone, he is able to capture the viewer and draw them in. The images make you question what they do, their background, they draw out your curiosity to learn more about this person that Bensted has painted so beautifully.

Illustrator turned artist Bensted, attended the renown University The Royal college of art, in London. His most recent exhibition was at 'The Medici Gallery' located in London, Mayfair. With his art being viewed at Museum of London, Ardean , Betty Morten , Biscuit Factory , Di Rollo , Bohemia and the London and Modern artists Gallery. Bensted is on the brink of being recognized as one of the up and coming artists. Remember that I tipped you about him first, you can visit his website to view some of his pictures although I believe that his best work is on the 'modern artists gallery' website.

His paintings are known for their sensuous nature, yet he achieves from a practical and straightforward approach. His is solidly grounded, he constantly works from life, which by its very nature enables him to develop and renew his visual and practical resources.

His work shows a clear interest in how the roles of masculine and feminine can be seen to be played out in these captured instances of time. Though mainly concerned with the effects of tone and the trace of the brush on the surface of the canvas you can also detect that Bensted’s portraits have an intimate atmosphere, which draw you into the painting, suggesting a connection between the model and the viewer. There is no apparent poising but a reflective moment shared.

Bensted always works from life, which is frequently extremely challenging, but eventually, more rewarding as it enables the artist to develop and renew his painting skills and to become more creative and inventive.

The artist also concerns himself with the different effects of light and how it changes according to time and season.

Noel Bensted offers us a rare opportunity to view someone on the threshold of an extremely promising career, in which in the coming years, we expect Bensted to establish himself as a leading British figurative artist.