Ken Howard OBE RA

Ken Howard is one of the most gifted and accomplished figurative artists of today. He is particularly successful in expressing the effects of light and dark in both oil and watercolour paintings. His favourite and most famous subjects are studio pictures, Venice, Cornwall coastal scenes and London.

Ken studied at Hornsey School of Fine Art from 1949-1953 and at the Royal College of Art, London 1955 – 1958. He was elected a Royal Academician in 1991 and awarded an OBE in 2010. His published works include Inspired by Light: A personal View (2001) and A Vision of Venice in watercolour (2002), Light and Dark – The  Autobiography of Ken Howard (2011), Ken Howard’s Switzerland in the footsteps of Turner.

 ‘For me painting is about three things. It is about revelation, communication and celebration. By revelation I mean giving people a way of seeing, revealing the world around them in a way they have never seen before.

By communication I mean revealing the world with a personal language, speaking directly in an instantly recognisable style. For me drawing is the basis of all visual language, for the art of drawing is a way of seeing and celebrating the world.

My last criterion, celebration, is perhaps more difficult to explain. We all suffer in our lives, we lose loved ones, we suffer illnesses and the stresses and strains of normal life. But I want art to raise me above that and for me my main inspiration is light and it is through light that I want to celebrate my world. ‘

Ken works relentlessly, lives life to the full and continues to be inspired and cleansed by travel. He now paints predominantly in oils. Ken has been hosting painting holidays for Spencer Scott Travel since the early 1990’s, and his energy and dedication help to make them hugely rewarding and successful.Destinations have included  India, Cuba, Morocco, France, Greece, The Yemen, Venice, Bruges and Amsterdam. Ken is an extraordinary host – he is a warm and generous person, an excellent communicator and amusing raconteur.

We feel privileged and honored to be working exclusively with Ken Howard.

Ken at work in Venice

Ken with students in Morocco