User:Russellhainesart/sandbox

Russell Haines

Russell Haines (1965) is an English artist specialising in expressionist portraits. He is notable for his very large and bold expressionist portraits that convey messages of social change.

Background

Haines was born in Gloucester, where he grew up and now lives. Before becoming an artist Haines worked in the building trade where he ran his own business. In 2010, Haines suffered a serious brain stem stroke which forced him to give up work and led to bankruptcy and depression. During this time,Haines was recommended to charity ‘ArtLift’ who specialise in using art to help people with a wide range of health issues. Haines went to ArtLift and spent 6 months on their programme. It was here that he first started painting and discovered his talent. Through expressionist painting Haines was able to greatly improve his health and decided to take his passion professional.

Art

Haines style is recognisable as fauvist with expressionist elements, using bold colours to create typically large portraits. Haines portraits often represent a social or community issue that he feels strongly about, hoping his art work can help inspire social change. In 2017 Russell was invited to display work in the House of Lords and was featured in the the ‘All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Arts, Health and Wellbeing’ report ‘Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing.’ As part of this he was invited onto BBC breakfast. In March 2019 Russell exhibited a new giant installation in the Tower of London, Faith, Hope and Charity at the Tower. An amalgamation of the themes of his trilogy of exhibitions that aim to show that above all we are all just people trying to live our lives. It was a fantastic success with other 400000 people viewing the piece.

'''Notable works and exhibitions:

•	Never Step backwards – Gloucester 2015

•	Faith - ongoing project

•	January 2017 – Gloucester Cathedral

•	April 2017 – Cheltenham Christian Arts Festival

•	March 2017 – London – The House of Lords

•	July 2017 – Cambridge – University Church The Great St Mary

•	May 2018 – London – St Stephen Walbrook Church

•	The State of Our Nation – Gloucester 2017

•	Faith, Hope and Charity at the Tower – London, March 2019 – The Tower of London

•	Hope – July 2019

•	Charity – Coming soon in 2020

Sources: http://www.artlift.org/ http://www.artshealthandwellbeing.org.uk/appg-inquiry/ https://jgarrod.wixsite.com/hainesart