Carl Chapple: Wales
Originally from Dartmoor in the southwest of England, after studying painting at St Martin’s School of Art, London, Carl spent time in Greece, the Czech Republic, Turkey, and Italy, where he drew a great deal and further developed his interest in Classical and Renaissance painting and sculpture. Since 2003 he has been based in South Wales.
Primarily interested in painting people, Carl worked from the nude for a number of years before developing a greater interest in portraiture - particularly working with musicians, comedians, dancers and other stage performers. Since around 2015 his approach to portraiture has expanded, drawing on earlier work from the figure to explore narrative, gesture, and movement in portrait painting.
Carl is an artist in residence with Ballet Cymru, Wales's international ballet company, where he works with dancers in their rehearsal space and in the painting studio.
His paintings are held in private collections across the UK and internationally, including the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art Cymru. He is represented in Wales by Ffin y Parc Gallery, and is a member of the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art.
Primarily interested in painting people, Carl worked from the nude for a number of years before developing a greater interest in portraiture - particularly working with musicians, comedians, dancers and other stage performers. Since around 2015 his approach to portraiture has expanded, drawing on earlier work from the figure to explore narrative, gesture, and movement in portrait painting.
Carl is an artist in residence with Ballet Cymru, Wales's international ballet company, where he works with dancers in their rehearsal space and in the painting studio.
His paintings are held in private collections across the UK and internationally, including the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art Cymru. He is represented in Wales by Ffin y Parc Gallery, and is a member of the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art.
FRONTOFBICYCLE EXHIBITIONS 2018 - 2021
C.V - OPEN TO VIEW
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2020 - Albany Gallery, Cardiff 2019 - Painting Dance, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (supported by Arts Council of Wales) 2019 - Painting Dance, Ffin y Parc Gallery, Conwy (supported by Arts Council of Wales) 2018 - A Thousand Words, Waterstones, Bloomsbury, London 2018 - Ffin y Parc Gallery, Conwy 2017 - Well Thumbed (Edinburgh Fringe), Whitespace Gallery, Edinburgh 2017 - Ffin y Parc Gallery, Conwy 2015 - Sŵn Festival, Abacus, Cardiff 2015 - Portraits, Waterloo Gardens, Penarth and Cardiff 2014 - Portraits of Performers, Riverfront Arts Centre, Newport 2014 - Portraits of Performers, Penarth Pier Pavilion, Penarth (supported by the Arts Council of Wales and Machynlleth Comedy Festival) 2014 - Portraits of Performers, Museum of Modern Art Cymru, Machynlleth 2014 - Green Man Performers, Hwyl, Cecil Sharpe House, London 2012 - Portraits of Musicians, locations across Cardiff, Sŵn Festival Fringe 2011 - Portraits and Nudes, Waterloo Gardens Teahouse, Cardiff 2011 - Recent Portraits, Oriel Celfi, Swansea 2010 - Paintings from Life, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff 2008 - Denise Yapp Contemporary Art, Monmouth 2007 - Museum of Modern Art Cymru, Machynlleth 2007 - Twelve Paintings, The Senedd, Cardiff Selected Group Exhibitions 2017-21 Ffin y Parc Gallery, Conwy 2020 Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London (winner of Chair’s Purchase Prize) 2017-21 Royal Cambrian Academy, Conwy 2018/19 - frontofbicycle Gallery, Basel, Switzerland 2017/18 - Kooywood Gallery, Cardiff 2017 - Museum of Modern Art Cymru, Machynlleth 2016 - FreeHaus, Llandudno (residency exhibition) 2009/10/16 - Denise Yapp Contemporary Art, Monmouthshire 2014/15 - Abacus Gallery, Cardiff 2015 - Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries, London 2006/11/12/13 - Welsh Artist of the Year exhibition, St David’s Hall, Cardiff 2007/10/11 - The Albany Gallery, Cardiff 2011 - BigLittleCity, The Old Library, Cardiff 2010 - Attic Gallery, Swansea 2010 - The Dairy, Cardiff 2006 - Oriel Tri, Penarth 2003 - Llewellyn Alexander Gallery, London 2002 - Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London 2000 - Blenheim Studios, London 1992 - Art Parcels, Frost and Reed Gallery, London Residencies and representation Member of the Royal Cambrian Academy Represented by Ffin y Parc Gallery, Conwy 2018 - present - International Guest Artist in Residence, frontofbicycle Gallery, Basel 2017 - present - Artist in residence, Ballet Cymru 2016 - Associate, Culture Action Llandudno - FreeHaus project, Llandudno |