Luke Andrew Cary Elwes (; born 26 July 1961) is a British contemporary artist whose paintings capture his encounters with the landscape and with the elements. He gained prominence in the early nineties when he returned from his travels in India, Asia and North Africa with a series of key paintings.

Biography

Elwes was born in London, where he now works and lives with his wife, Anneke (daughter of Hans du Moulin, of Farnham, Surrey), and their two children

Jake Elwes Jake Elwes () is a British media artist, Hacker_culture, hacker and researcher. Their practice is the exploration of artificial intelligence (AI), queer theory and technical biases. They are known for using AI to create art in mediums such as vi ...

and Toby Elwes. He is the eldest of three sons of Peter John Gervase Elwes (1929–2017), an businessman in the oil, gas and banking industries,Burke's Landed Gentry, 18th edition, vol. 1, ed. Peter Townend, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 1965, p. 236 and Rosalie Ann, daughter of the Army officer James Hennessy. His grandfather was the painter

Simon Elwes Lt. Col. Simon Edmund Vincent Paul Elwes, (29 June 1902 – 6 August 1975) was a British war artist and society portrait painter whose patrons included presidents, kings, queens, statesmen, sportsmen, prominent social figures and many members ...

RA, son of Victorian opera singer Gervase Elwes. He is also first cousin of the actor

Cary Elwes Ivan Simon Cary Elwes (; born 26 October 1962) is an English actor. He starred as Westley in ''The Princess Bride (film), The Princess Bride'' (1987), and also had lead roles in films such as ''Robin Hood: Men in Tights'' (1993) and the Saw (fr ...

. His early years were spent in

Tehran Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District (Tehran County), Central District. With a population of around 9. ...

, Persia, where the light and space of the desert were a formative influence. He attended

Worth School Worth School is a Private schools in the United Kingdom, private co-educational Roman Catholic boarding school, boarding and day school, day school for pupils from 11 to 18 years of age near Worth, West Sussex, Worth, West Sussex, England. Unti ...

then between 1979 and 1985 he studied History at

Bristol University The University of Bristol is a public research university in Bristol, England. It received its royal charter in 1909, although it can trace its roots to a Merchant Venturers' school founded in 1595 and University College, Bristol, which had ...

and Painting at

Camberwell School of Art Camberwell College of Arts is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, a public art and design university in London, England. The college offers further and higher education programmes, including postgraduate and PhD awards. ...

. In 2007 he pursued postgraduate research in Art History at

Birkbeck, University of London Birkbeck, University of London (formally Birkbeck College, University of London), is a Public university, public research university located in London, England, and a constituent college, member institution of the University of London. Establ ...

. While working at

Christie's Christie's is a British auction house founded in 1766 by James Christie (auctioneer), James Christie. Its main premises are on King Street, St James's in London, and it has additional salerooms in New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Milan, Geneva, Shan ...

, he began to travel and write, and after meeting

Bruce Chatwin Charles Bruce Chatwin (13 May 194018 January 1989) was an English travel writer, novelist and journalist. His first book, ''In Patagonia'' (1977), established Chatwin as a travel writer, although he considered himself instead a storytelling, s ...

in 1987 he went to the central

Australian desert Deserts cover about , or 18%, of the Australian mainland, but about 35% of the Australian continent receives so little rain, it is practically desert. Collectively known as the Great Australian desert, they are primarily distributed throughout ...

to explore the landscape and its use in indigenous storytelling and artforms. Since then he has continued to travel extensively, frequently returning to remote locations in India,

Asia Minor Anatolia (), also known as Asia Minor, is a peninsula in West Asia that makes up the majority of the land area of Turkey. It is the westernmost protrusion of Asia and is geographically bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean ...

and North Africa. In 1998, he served as artist-in-residence on an expedition to

Mount Kailash Mount Kailash (also Kailasa; ''Kangrinboqê'' or ''Gang Rinpoche''; ; ; , ) is a mountain in Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It lies in the Kailash Range (Gangdisê Mountains) of the Transhimalaya, in the western part ...

, a holy mountain in western

Tibet Tibet (; ''Böd''; ), or Greater Tibet, is a region in the western part of East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are other ethnic groups s ...

. His work has also been inspired by the landscapes of

Osea Island Osea Island (, "Osyth's island"), formerly also Osey, is an inhabited island in the Blackwater Estuary, estuary of the River Blackwater, Essex, East England. It is approximately in size and is connected to the north bank of the river by a caus ...

where he rented a cottage with his family for many years. Since 2007, he has worked in the former studio of

Nigel Henderson Admiral Sir Nigel Stuart Henderson, (1 August 1909 – 2 August 1993) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee from 1968 to 1971. Naval career Henderson joined the Royal Navy in 1927.

in Landermere on the Essex marshes. In 2015, he was artist-in-residence at the Albers Foundation. Since his first exhibition in 1990 he has had over twenty-five one-man shows in London, Paris and New York City. He also writes about contemporary painting for journals including

Modern Painters (magazine) ''Modern Painters'' is a monthly art magazine. It was launched as a quarterly in the United Kingdom in 1987, and is now published in New York City by Louise Blouin Media. History The magazine was launched in England in 1987 by the art criti ...

, Galleries and the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House in Piccadilly London, England. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its ...

magazine.

Exhibitions

Solo exhibitions

* ''Constellation'', Frestonian Gallery, London (2024) * ''Landermere'', Frestonian Gallery, London (2021) * ''Passage'', Frestonian Gallery, London (2019) * ''Floating world'', Adam Gallery, London & Bath (2017) * ''Floating world'', National Trust, Flatford, Suffolk (2016) * ''Albers Foundation'', Broadbent Gallery, London (2015) * ''Reflection'', Campden Gallery (UK) (2015) * ''Water Diaries'', The Minories, Colchester (UK) (2014) * ''Writing on water'', Adam Gallery, London & Bath (2014) * ''Luke Elwes: 10 Year survey'', Young Gallery, Salisbury (2013) * ''Constellation'', Adam Gallery, London & Bath (2012) * ''Celestial Confetti'', North House Gallery, Essex (2012) * ''Silent Kingdom'', Adam Gallery, London & Bath (2011) * ''Secret Water'', Broadbent Gallery, London (2009) * ''Peintures Recente'', Galerie Marceau Bastille, Paris (2009) * ''Refugia'', Art First, London (2007) * ''Flowing Ground'', Broadbent Gallery, London (2005) * ''Compass'', Art First, London (2004) * ''Recent Paintings'', Art First, New York (2002) * ''The Osea Paintings'', Art First, London (2002) * ''Peintures'', Galerie Vieille du Temple, Paris (2001) * ''Sanctuary'', Art First, London (2000) * ''Pilgrim'', Art First, London (1998) * ''Island'', Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London (1995) * ''Peintures'', Galerie Vieille du Temple, Paris (1993) * ''Storyline'',

Rebecca Hossack Rebecca Hossack (born October 1955), is an Australian-born London gallerist, who helped introduce Indigenous Australian art to a British audience. She is considered an expert on Aboriginal art, Australian Aboriginal culture and non-Western art tr ...

Gallery, London (1993) * ''Landcross'',

Gallery, London (1991) * ''Bungle Bungle'',

Gallery, London (1990)

Selected group shows

* ''Vision + The Visionary'', Kookmin University Gallery, Seoul, South Korea (including

Bridget Riley Bridget Louise Riley (born 24 April 1931) is an English painter known for her op art paintings. She lives and works in London, Cornwall and the Vaucluse in France. Early life and education Riley was born on 24 April 1931 in West Norwood, No ...

, Sammy Lee & Vakki) (2022) * ''The Green Fuse'', Frestonian Gallery, London (including

Adrian Berg Adrian Berg (12 March 1929 – 22 October 2011) was an English painter known for his landscapes, many of them images of Regent's Park, London. Although some of his works appear almost naturalistic, typically they defy conventional notions of per ...

, Tim Braden &

) (2020) * ''Natural Beauty'', North House Gallery, Essex UK (2020) * ''Landscape of Memory'', Galleria Ceribelli, Italy (2019) * ''SAID Business School'',

University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...

(2019) * ''Currents'', Sladers Yard Gallery, Dorset UK (2018) * ''Amici Pittori Di Londra'', Galleria Ceribelli, Italy (2017) * ''Sladers Yard Gallery'', UK (with Emma Stibborn, Alex Lowery, Daisy Cook) (2016) * ''Segni di Londra'', Museo della Grafica, Palazzo Lanfranchi, Pisa, Italy (2016) * ''Segni di Londra'', Fondazione Bottari Lattes, Monforte d’Alba, Italy (2015) *

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition The Summer Exhibition is an open art exhibition held annually by the Royal Academy in Burlington House, Piccadilly in central London, England, during the months of June, July, and August. The exhibition includes paintings, prints, drawings, sc ...

(curated by Tess Jaray), London (2015) * ''Vital signs: 12 London Artists'',

Clifford Chance Clifford Chance LLP is a British multinational law firm headquartered in London, England, and a member of the " Magic Circle", a group of leading London-based multinational law firms. In 2022-2023 Clifford Chance was the third largest law fir ...

, London & Galleria Ceribelli, Italy (with

Tony Bevan Tony Bevan (born 1951) is a British painter, known for his psychologically charged images of people at the edge of respectable society. Biography Bevan was born in Bradford, Yorkshire. He studied at Bradford School of Art from 1968 to 1971, fol ...

, Lebrun, Hyman, Jackowski, James, Johnson, Lowry, Mannocci, Newbolt, Di Stefano, Verity) (2015) * ''Radiance'', Sladers Yard Gallery, Dorset UK (2014) * ''Cross Country'', Broadbent Gallery, London (with Andrew Vass & Kate Palmer) (2012) * ''Threadneedle Prize for Painting'', London (2012) *

, London (2011) * ''Another Country'', Estorick Collection, London (with

, Di Stefano, Hyman, Jackowski, James, Johnson, Lowery, Mannocci, Newbolt) (2010) * ''Critics Choice'', Browse & Darby, London (selected by Andrew Lambirth) (2010) * ''L'Isle Joyeuse'', Art First & Falle Fine Art, Jersey (with Alex Lowery & Bridget Macdonald) (2009) * ''Hester Gallery'', Leeds (with Maurice Cockrill, Stephen Chambers, Lino Mannocci & Christopher Wood) (2009) * ''Genius Loci'', Galleria Ceribelli,

Bergamo Bergamo ( , ; ) is a city in the Alps, alpine Lombardy region of northern Italy, approximately northeast of Milan, and about from the alpine lakes Lake Como, Como and Lake Iseo, Iseo and 70 km (43 mi) from Lake Garda, Garda and Lake ...

, Italy (2008) * ''Gli Amici Pittori Di Londra'', Galleria Ceribelli, Bergamo & Galleria Ghelfi, Vicenza, Italy (2007) * ''Mapping'', Bury Art Gallery, Manchester (2007) * Celeste Art Prize, London (2007) * ''Translations'', work from the

National Gallery (London) The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, in Central London, England. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of more than 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The current dir ...

, Art First, London (2006) * Singer & Friedlander/Sunday Times Watercolour Exhibition, London (2005) *

(2005) * ''Look, Stranger!'' Art First, London (Luke Elwes, Alex Lowery, Bridget MacDonald) (2003) *

(2003) * ''Water’s edge'', Art First, London (Luke Elwes, Anthony Whishaw, Lino Mannocci) (2002) * 10th Anniversary Exhibition, Art First, London (2001) * Galerie Vieille du Temple, Paris (2000) * The Hunting Group Art Prizes, London and Bath (1999) *

(1998) * 14th Annual Open, Royal Overseas League, London & Edinburgh (1997) * Bayer Earth Art Prize,(Highly Commended), London (1996) * ''Endangered Spaces'', Council for the Protection of Rural England, Christies, London (1996) * Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (as invited artist) (1995) * ''Centenary, Contemporary British Art &

the National Trust The National Trust () is a heritage and nature conservation charity and membership organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Trust was founded in 1895 by Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley to "promote the ...

'', Christie’s, London (1995) * ''Sanctuary Commission Project'' (with

Maggi Hambling Margaret J. Hambling (born 23 October 1945) is a British artist. Though principally a painter, her best-known public works are the sculptures '' A Conversation with Oscar Wilde'' and '' A Sculpture for Mary Wollstonecraft'' in London, and the ...

, Shirazah Houshiary, Keith grant, Mali Morris), Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London (1994) * ''Celebration, New British Art'', Benjamin Rhodes Gallery, London (1994). * ''Reflections'', Edinburgh & London (chosen by The Spectator)(1993) * ''Spring'', Barbican, London (chosen by The Spectator)(1992) * ''Songlines'', Barbican, London (1991) * ''Earthscape'', Hastings & Southampton City Art Gallery (1991) * ''Il Sud Del Mondo, L’Altra Arte Contemporanea'', Marsala, Sicily, and Milan, Italy (1991) * ''The Broad Horizon'', Agnews, London (1990) * ''Richard Demarco Gallery'', Edinburgh (1988) * ''39eme Salon de la Jeune Peinture'', Grand Palais, Paris (1988) * ''38eme Salon de la Jeune Peinture'', Grand Palais, Paris (1987)

Selected collections

Collections include the Bayer Collection;

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is a 430-bed teaching hospital located in Chelsea, London. The hospital has a rich history in that it serves as the new site for the Westminster Hospital. It is operated by Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS ...

;

Contemporary Art Collection; Deutsche Hypo Bank; Luther Pendragon Collection and The

National Trust The National Trust () is a heritage and nature conservation charity and membership organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Trust was founded in 1895 by Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley to "promote the ...

Foundation for Art.

Publications

* ''Genius loci'', Luke Elwes (2008), Ediz. italiana e inglese, Editore Lubrina-LEB (collana Arte moderna e contemporanea) * ''

Roger Hilton Roger Hilton CBE (1911–1975) was a pioneer of abstract art in post-Second World War Britain. Often associated with the 'middle generation' of St Ives painters – Terry Frost, Patrick Heron, Peter Lanyon & Bryan Wynter – he spent mu ...

: Swinging Out into the Void'' by Andrew Lambirth (Author), Luke Elwes (Author), Anett Hauswald (Author),Kettle's Yard Gallery (August 2, 2008), * ''Luke Elwes at Art First'', The (London) Independent, Sep 21, 2004 by

Sue Hubbard Sue Hubbard is a poet, novelist and art critic based in the UK. Hubbard has published three collections of poetry with her fourth due from Salmon Press, Ireland in 2020, three novels, a collection of short stories and a book on art. She has wri ...

* ''Luke Elwes, Sanctuary'', by Nicholas Usherwood, Art First Contemporary Art (2000), * ''Pilgrim'', by Andrew Lambirth, Art First (February 1998), * ''Island'', Rebecca Hossack Gallery (1995), * ''Bungle Bungle, the Australian Paintings'',by Colin Gleadell, Rebecca Hossack Gallery (1990),

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elwes, Luke British contemporary artists British painters 1961 births Living people Alumni of Birkbeck, University of London Alumni of the University of Bristol Artists from London