Trevor Osborne ~ Artist
Background
Trevor was born in Essex, but moved to Staffordshire when he was 10. At the age of 16, while studying at the Stanfield Technical School, he won the National English School Portrait Competition. He was admitted one year early to the North Staffordshire Polytechnic, where he studied graphic design. He has subsequently completed degrees in theology and education.
Early Work
From 1974-6, he exhibited widely, first with the North Staffordshire Artists, and later with the Cheshire Artists. From 1976-1981 he followed a post-graduate course in Figure drawing at North Staffordshire Polytechnic, while simultaneously lecturing in Art History at the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College. His work was shown in several solo and group exhibitions in the Stoke-on-Trent area.
The Isle of Wight
Moving to the Isle of Wight in 1983 led to a new period in Trevor’s work. He was captivated by the movement of sea and light, and his growing daughter was the inspiration for a series of studies. From 1987 he regularly exhibited in the Quay Arts Centre, but his work was also being shown nationally, in Lymington (Hampshire), Bartley Drey Gallery (Chelsea), and London.
Trevor also exhibited in the Seaview Gallery on the Isle of Wight, and was one of the first artists invited to exhibit at the launch of Kendall's Fine Art Gallery in Cowes. His association with Kendall's and the Robert Perera Gallery (Lymington) led to series of marine paintings.
Suffolk
In 2003, Trevor became Head of a High School in Lowestoft, and for the next 8 years he chose to work privately and not to exhibit, but since April 2011 he has been working as a professional artist. He has exhibited with Suffolk Open Studios and undertaken a number of charity projects, including ‘Dogs of St Andrews’ for his local church (featured in ‘Suffolk Norfolk Life’ magazine), and work with Racing Welfare in Newmarket. He has worked with the Beccles Society of Artists and Norfolk and Norwich Art Circle, and at the Swann Hotel (Lodden). His work may currently be viewed at the Ferini Art Gallery (Lowestoft) and the Sun Lane Gallery (Newmarket); his most recent exhibition was at the National Horseracing Museum (Newmarket).
Focus of work
Ever since his time on the Isle of Wight, Trevor has been fascinated by light and colour, and he has recently been studying the relationship between texture and colour in pastel and watercolour. His subjects include figure work and portraiture, as well as light on water and the marine environment, and his recent work has studied the relationship between people and animals who work together in the Suffolk landscape. Trevor’s work has been sold all over the world, including Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Australia and the USA.
A further side to Trevor’s work is his teaching, both in workshops and one-to-one. He also gives demonstrations and lectures (for instance a lecture on contemporary art for the WI).