Biography

Barry uses a unique combination of gold leaf and acrylic paint to create the alluring effect of vintage photography and contemporary glamour. Collaborating with New York fashion photographer Jamie Nelson, Barry's portrait series is both aspirational and approachable. His atmospheric interiors and urban landscapes are equally intriguing and are now included in private collections in the UK, USA and the Far East.

“The mood is transformed by the changing light across the gold” John Sargeant

Barry Wilson trained at the Camberwell School of Art and was taught by influential artists such as Bruce Mclean, Cornelia Parker, Jock Mcfadden and Ian Mckeever.

“My aim with this set of pictures has been to emulate a faint image in an antique mirror or a creased and faded much loved photo. I believe the delicate, fragile beauty of the gold leaf finish belies the somewhat brutal techniques I employ. These include using industrial spray guns, scouring pads and water jets, scrubbing back the layers of paint to reveal the gold leaf base which seems to give the structure / framework of the painting. I believe the result is a vibrant and edgy captured moment; contemporary and beautiful.”

Biography

2022

Affordable Art Fair Battersea - The Wey Gallery

2019

Fresh Art Fair Ascot- The Wey Gallery

2018 

Fresh Art Fair Cheltenham

The Wey Gallery, Godalming

2017

Fresh Art Fair, Cheltenham

The Wey Gallery, Godalming April 2017

2015
London Art Fair January 2015
Hampstead Art Fair January 2015
Hollywood Road Gallery Chelsea January 2015
2014
Russell Gallery Fulham October 2014
Catherine Miller Gallery London Chelsea August 2014
AAF Battersea March 2014
Red Barn Studios Northampton April 2014
2013
Cannizaro House December 2013
Medici Gallery Mayfair London October 2013
Keplinski Gallery Dubai August 2013
2012
• Aspen Gallery Dubai 14th Sept 2012
• 2 - 15 October 2012
• Saatchi Gallery London 15th July 2011 - January 2012
• AAF Battersea London 2012
2011
• Kempinski Gallery Dubai 2011
• Tracey Mcnee Gallery London 2011
• Tracey Mcnee Gallery Glasgow 2011
• AAF Edinburgh 2011
• AAF Bristol 2011
2010
• Fairfax Gallery London 2010 
• Viewpoint Gallery Sussex 2010 
2008
• Tate Modern 2008
• Riverside Studios London 2008
• Barbican (London Group) 2008
•
Awards 
• Saatchi Online Showdown (Winner) 2011

Barry’s highly distinctive paintings have been exhibited in major museum and galleries worldwide with international acclaim.

Saatchi and Saatchi headlined one of Barry’s pieces at charity auction in April 2018 with gold tickets selling for £25,000.