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Introduction

Doug Kemp (Douglas John Kemp) is a British artist who produces artworks characterised by a distinctive style and narrative storytelling. Kemp has produced a significant volume of work over the course of his career. Kemp's artworks often (but not exclusively) exhibit a distinct Pop Art style, characterised by vibrant colours, bold lines, and graphic elements.

Artist Doug Kemp and 2021 pop art painting called Moving On

The occasional use of popular culture references and retro imagery adds to the overall Pop Art effect in his work. Kemp's artistic style draws inspiration from the comic book retro aesthetic of the 1950s, but also classic Hollywood glamour, gangster films, Film noir and personal observations of life, resulting in developing artworks that exude a unique blend of humour, tragedy, sensuality, and visual dynamism. His preferred medium is acrylic paint on canvas, although he also explores works on paper and creates artist prints.

This Wikipedia entry serves as a platform to introduce art enthusiasts to his work, providing a glimpse into his artistic journey and inviting further exploration of his captivating and thought-provoking artworks.

Early Life And Education

Doug Kemp was born on September 12, 1939, in Bath, England (much to his chagrin), because his pregnant mother, Violet (Vi) Elsie Kemp, nee Claus, was evacuated at the outbreak of World War II. He grew up in the family home in Walthamstow, in the East End of London. His father, Frank Ernest Kemp, was soon conscripted into the Army and they did not see each other for a number of years.

He was still at school when he discovered his passion for artistic expression and started to develop his skills, encouraged by his teacher, John Jones, at an after-school Art Club.

Kemp's formal artistic journey began at the Walthamstow College of Art in the early 1960s, where he received a traditional education in the arts. The College of Art was later absorbed by The University of East London, but initially had more than its fair share of accolades and renowned personalities.

Three of Kemp’s contemporaries and friends were the singer-songwriter, Ian Dury, photographer Laurie Lewis and filmmaker Peter Greenaway, he shared a flat and made an artistic pilgrimage to Italy with the latter. One of Kemp’s teachers at Walthamstow College of Art was the renowned British artist Peter Blake.

Kemp later pursued further education at the prestigious Royal Academy of Arts and later became a Senior Lecturer at Loughborough College of Art and Design.

Musician Ian Dury, Director Peter Greenaway & Pop Artist Doug Kemp - Art School London 1960s

Doug Kemp (centre) together with Ian Dury (left) and Peter Greenaway (right) apparently discussing some of Kemp’s work shown in the background. Walthamstow College of Art c.1962.

The formative years spent in Walthamstow and the invaluable education he received at the Walthamstow College of Art and the Royal Academy of Arts played a crucial role in shaping Kemp's artistic vision. These experiences provided a strong foundation and allowed him to explore various artistic styles and mediums, setting him on the path to becoming a respected artist.

Personal Life

Doug Kemp's personal life has been marked by significant milestones. In 1970, he married Josephine Phillips, who later became a children's author under the name Jo Kemp. She went on to write popular TV series such as "Chorlton And The Wheelies" and "Jamie & The Magic Torch" and has also written the first of a fantasy novel series.

During his tenure as a Senior Lecturer at Loughborough College of Art and Design from 1971 to 1993, his son, Luke Sebastian Kemp, was born in 1972.

Doug Kemp's path led him to divorce and eventually to another marriage around 1988, this time to Maggy Mayhew. However, the couple divorced in 1998.

These and other life experiences moulded aspects of his art.

Since 1994, Doug Kemp has been based in Suffolk, diligently working in his home studio every day. His art continues to evolve with its unique narrative and distinctive style.

Artistic Style & Influences

Doug Kemp's artistic style defies easy categorisation, encompassing various artistic movements and cultural sources. His work showcases a blend of Modernism and Pop Art, while also drawing inspiration from Dada, film noir, glamour and gangster films but also the golden age of comic books and films and even mediaeval wall paintings.

He has described himself as a Line and Colour man and a witness to life around him, absorbing the scenes, often into his subconscious, to be later portrayed in his work, sometimes after years have passed.

Kemp's paintings often also exhibit a distinctly postmodern sensibility, challenging traditional artistic conventions and embracing a playful and subversive approach. He incorporates elements of Dada with its often absurd nature, creating unexpected juxtapositions and layering of imagery. This infusion of Dadaist principles adds a touch of irreverence and spontaneity to his work, inviting viewers to question established norms and interpretations.

Drawing inspiration from the moody atmosphere of gangster films and film noir, he infuses his paintings with a sense of mystery and narrative intrigue. Many of the characters in his works, often wearing 1950s-style clothing, evoke the archetypal figures found in classic gangster films. The suited male figure, frequently depicted donning a gangster's Fedora hat, serves as a representation of the artist himself but also evokes an enigmatic presence.

Alongside these cinematic influences, Kemp remains inspired by compositions of artists like Fernand Léger and Max Beckmann, as well as the visual language of Art Deco. The sleek lines, geometric forms, and stylised elegance of Art Deco often find their way into his work, infusing it with a timeless sense of sophistication.

Geometric shapes, particularly the circle but also broad lines separating areas of the painting, feature greatly in many of Kemp’s works and he maintains that the image is as much about the overall structural composition as the content detail. Occasionally, a closer look is required to define what initially might just appear to be a signature geometric device, when it is actually a representation of a particular object and that is important to the narrative.

A geometric device regularly used by Kemp for a period of his work was a play on the chequered patterns on the suits of male characters. The differing complex patterns in bold colours did not obey the rules of perspective and placed the different figures in different planes and a visual impossibility to each other, almost relegating them to sheets of wallpaper.

Exhibitions, Collections and Recognition

Doug Kemp’s artistic journey led him to various residencies, including Artist in Residence at Hospitalfields House in Arbroath in 1982 and at the Cyprus Collage of Art in 1990.

Kemp has had significant professional commissions, including an artist commission for eight Heroes and Villains paintings for ASK Restaurant in 1994 and work was produced on-site at a ‘one man show’ for MJS Gallery, Fort Worth, Texas Despite being a virtual recluse and maintaining a low profile, Doug Kemp's body of work already consists of around 500 works, situated in Britain and abroad.

Although relatively unknown in the commercial art world, throughout his career, Kemp has participated in various exhibitions and received recognition for his unique artistic style and contributions to the art world. His works have been showcased in both group shows and solo exhibitions but as time goes on, he now increasingly relies on a website, Dougkemp.co.uk. to display his work.

Selected Exhibitions:

• Group show, Big Paintings for Public Places, Royal Academy of Arts One-man show at Texas Christian University.
• One-man show at Texas Christian University.
• Group Show, Galerie Daniel Wahrenberger, Zurich
• Group Open, Kettle's Yard Open, Cambridge*
• Group Show, 30 Years Fellows Show, Cheltenham Fellowships*
• Group Show, Absolute Secret, Royal College of Art, London
• Group Show, On the Border, Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich*
• One-man Show, Artists and Art Lovers, Gainsborough House, Sudbury*
• One-man Show, Galerie Daniel Wahrenberger, Zurich
• One-man Show, Byard Gallery, Cambridge
• Three-man Show, with Bob Scriven & John Kiki, Galerie Daniel Wahrenberger, Zurich
• One-man Show, Warehouse Gallery, Lowestoft
• One-man Show, The Star Gallery, Michigan City, Illinois, USA
• Mixed Show, Eyestorm Gallery, Ipswich
• Group Show, Wahrenberger, Zurich
• Norwich Royal Theatre
• One Byard Noytt
• Group show Skyhigh Gallery
• One-man Show, Chelmsford University
• One-man Show, Riverside Gallery, VEA Chelmsford
• One-man Show, Warehouse Gallery, Lowestoft
• One-man Show, Waldringfield Gallery
• Several Group shows with RASEAG (Royal Academy Schools East Anglian Group) and former Royal Academy Schools colleagues
• Three-man Show, Bungay Neptune Theatre (Unfortunately, the show was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remaining unseen for an extended period).

These exhibitions have provided Kemp with opportunities to showcase his work and connect with other art enthusiasts. His pieces have been displayed in prestigious galleries, both locally and internationally.

Artistic Themes

Kemp's art demonstrates an amalgamation of various art movements and influences. From Dada to Art Deco, his works blend different artistic styles and references, resulting in a fusion that reflects his eclectic artistic journey and life's work.

The 1950s era, with its fashion and atmosphere, also serves as a prominent theme in Kemp's artwork, evoking a sense of nostalgia and capturing the essence of that period.

Within the playful and visually striking compositions, there is often an undercurrent of social commentary in Kemp's work. Famous and infamous events of the time often appear in his work.

He explores themes such as relationships, urban life, and the human condition, providing subtle commentary on contemporary society and often conveys narratives through his characters and their compositions. These narratives can be humorous, tragic, or infused with elements of mystery, inviting viewers to engage with the visual narratives he creates.

Artistic Philosophy

Doug Kemp has stated that his philosophy to art is perfectly summed up by Max Beckmann and wished he had been eloquent enough to have conceived the sentiment himself:

“It is not the subject which matters but the translation of the subject into the abstraction of the surface by means of painting. Therefore I hardly need to abstract things, for each object is unreal enough already, so unreal that I can only make it real by means of painting.“ — Max Beckmann Source: 1930s, On my Painting (1938).

Artistic Legacy

Doug Kemp's artistic legacy lies in his unique approach to storytelling and his distinct style that blends various art movements. While he remains relatively unknown in the commercial art world, his prolific volume of work is beginning to be recognised and is due to be fully appreciated in the future.

Furthermore, Doug Kemp's teaching experience as a Senior Lecturer at Loughborough College of Art and Design has influenced aspiring artists, leaving a lasting impact and creating many friendships in the art community.

Artistic Techniques and Mediums

Doug Kemp is a versatile artist who had traditional formal training and has explored various mediums throughout his career, although his preferred medium is acrylic paint. This is partly due to an allergy to pure Turpentine, but mainly for acrylic’s shorter drying time on generally large canvases. His mastery of this two-dimensional medium is evident in the rich patterns and vibrant colours and thick lines that make the paintings stand out.

During the 1990s, due to limited studio space that would not allow the creation and storage of large canvases, Kemp also created works on paper, demonstrating his adaptability. These works on paper allowed for easier and different artistic expressions and experimentation, effectively producing sketches, with some later referenced and reproduced in his print works and even large canvases.

Although printing (mainly Linocut) was learnt as a craft at Walthamstow Collge of Art and he produced a few prints in the intervening years, it was not until the late 1990s that Kemp ventured into the realm of limited edition artist prints to any great scale. This offered a way for his work to be more widely accessible to a broader audience. The prints (Linocut, Silkscreen and later Giclee) capture the detail of his original works.

Public Installations or Commissions:

Doug Kemp received an artist commission for eight Heroes and Villains paintings for ASK Restaurant and a commission from a Chicago property developer for a series of prints, Howard en route.

Collaborations or Artistic Partnerships

Collaboration with the fashion world of Loughborough was made in the 1980s, producing knitwear with images of some of his work. It is important to recognise that there has always been a partnership with a professional printmaker to produce high-quality and generally large artist’s prints, invariably relying on their expertise.

Further reading

Doug Kemp art stories

Doug Kemp video interviews