"I have been living and painting in both England and Kuwait and this geographical separation has resulted in two seemingly distinct bodies of work. However, all my work is inspired by my experience of my local surroundings. I am interested in how paint can be used to create images that filter reality towards a more essential experience.

I paint from both observation and memory and I sometimes make videos of my walks and runs to play on a loop in the studio while I paint. Painting is a meditative and deeply personal experience for me. The more I paint the more I feel the need to paint. I like to think of my paintings as windows and doorways into a world that already exists in my mind. Each new painting uncovers a little more of this world and the more I paint the more I see."

Profile

Lewis is an English painter who had his first solo show in Kuwait in November 2009 at the Dar El Cid. He exhibits in England at the Schoolroom Gallery in Alnmouth and in Scotland at the Beauly Gallery. He has worked on several private commissions and he has exhibited both solo and in group shows since graduating from Goldsmith’s college in London in 2005. He received his teaching qualifications from the University of Cambridge in 2007 and he continues to provide drawing and painting classes to small groups of students.

Exhibitions and talks

September 2008, The Nine Muses, solo show, Barnard Castle, England

November 2009, New Perspectives, Solo show at the Dar El Cid, Kuwait

May 2010, Pecha Kucha, Digital presentation, Museum of Modern Art, Kuwait

June 2010, Dickinson’s, group show of local artists, Alnwick, England

October 2010, Charity Show to raise funds for Bayt Abdullah, Dar El Funoon, Kuwait

November 2010, show to launch ‘Diary of Hope’, Radisson SAS Hotel, Kuwait