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Oliver Winconek

Oliver Winconek was born in Bedford, England, but now lives and works in Weedon Bec, Northamptonshire. Forgoing formal art training, the primarily self-taught artist creates works centred on people and the urban environment: “I create both portrait and figurative work, as well as cityscapes that reflect the buzz you only get from a massive group of strangers inhabiting the same outdoor space. I find it very satisfying documenting elements of the world and the people within it via the medium of paint.” Evolving continuously over a successful 20-year career, Oliver has developed a diverse portfolio that ranges from bold, graphic cityscapes and delicate pen and ink drawings to realistic oil portraits: “I am fascinated by people and the everyday—those situations and moments that we all encounter on a daily basis that often hold no obvious significance or resonance. The fleeting happenings that we take for granted are those that I like to use as subject matter.”

While his broader body of work spans multiple subjects and mediums, Oliver now works predominantly as a portraitist in oil: “I love the fluidity of oils as well as their strong, robust textures. It’s easy to feel that you’re almost carving the portrait out of nothing when you’re applying paint to the canvas. While my work is grounded in realism, I embrace bold brushstrokes, impasto techniques, and rich, expressive colour to add depth and emotional weight. These stylistic choices bring vitality to each piece and allow the personality of the subject to shine through.” In 2017, he was featured on Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year, where he painted the actor Trevor Eve. Other notable commissions include Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE, Jamie Staff MBE, Joe McFadden, and Laurie Kynaston. Held in numerous private and public collections, his works have been exhibited worldwide, including at prestigious venues such as the Mall Galleries, the Royal College of Art, and the Saatchi Gallery, cementing his reputation as a leading contemporary portrait artist.