Mackenzie Thorpe
Encyclopedia
Mackenzie Thorpe is a British
artist
. Born as the first of seven children into the post-war industrial town, Thorpe initially took on work in the shipyards, such were his familial origins. A suggestion from a friend, however, encouraged him to try to pursue his first love, drawing
and painting
, at art school
.
Thorpe applied in 1977 to study at the local Cleveland College of Art and Design
, where he studied under Tom Wall
, leaving two years later for the Byam Shaw College of Art in London
, and a fine arts degree
. After graduation in 1982, Thorpe remained in the capital to aid disadvantaged children. However, motivated by a desire to provide a better environment for his children to grow up in, Thorpe returned with his family to the North East
in 1989. There, he set up Arthaus, a gallery in Richmond
, North Yorkshire, which remains to this day.
His works are associated with a principle of "Art from the heart" - combining tenderness with fervency through his abstract depictions of animals and children. His work is wide ranging from the accessible 'square sheep' and duffle coat boys to more challenging work focusing on isolation and mans struggle. Much of his work depicts his childhood growing up in Middlesbrough
.
Thorpe has produced the official Christmas
cards for the then Conservative
politician and party leader, William Hague
. Other plaudits include the 'Best-Selling Published Artist' award in 2000 from the Fine Art Trade Guild
-hosted Art & Framing Industry Awards.
Thorpe also holds an honorary Master of Arts degree, collected in 2000 from his hometown's Teesside University. In addition, Thorpe's and Arthaus' wish to support 'good causes' culminated in the launch of the Mackenzie Thorpe Foundation, in 2005. In October 2006 Thorpe produced an exhibition of outdoor monumental sculptures in Kansas City, Missouri and intends to take similar concepts to New Zealand, Australia and the UK.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
. Born as the first of seven children into the post-war industrial town, Thorpe initially took on work in the shipyards, such were his familial origins. A suggestion from a friend, however, encouraged him to try to pursue his first love, drawing
Drawing
Drawing is a form of visual art that makes use of any number of drawing instruments to mark a two-dimensional medium. Common instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, inked brushes, wax color pencils, crayons, charcoal, chalk, pastels, markers, styluses, and various metals .An artist who...
and painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, at art school
Art school
Art school is a general term for any educational institution with a primary focus on the visual arts, especially illustration, painting, photography, sculpture, and graphic design. The term applies to institutions with elementary, secondary, post-secondary or undergraduate, or graduate or...
.
Thorpe applied in 1977 to study at the local Cleveland College of Art and Design
Cleveland College of Art and Design
Cleveland College of Art & Design is a further and higher education art and design college, based in the north east of England. The college draws its name from the former non-metropolitan county of Cleveland, operational from 1974 to 1996.-Regional coverage:...
, where he studied under Tom Wall
Tom Wall (artist)
Tom Wall was a landscape painter and educator.He moved with his family to Bryhonddu in Wales at the age of 10, later studying at Newport College of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art in London...
, leaving two years later for the Byam Shaw College of Art in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and a fine arts degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
. After graduation in 1982, Thorpe remained in the capital to aid disadvantaged children. However, motivated by a desire to provide a better environment for his children to grow up in, Thorpe returned with his family to the North East
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
in 1989. There, he set up Arthaus, a gallery in Richmond
Richmond, North Yorkshire
Richmond is a market town and civil parish on the River Swale in North Yorkshire, England and is the administrative centre of the district of Richmondshire. It is situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and serves as the Park's main tourist centre...
, North Yorkshire, which remains to this day.
His works are associated with a principle of "Art from the heart" - combining tenderness with fervency through his abstract depictions of animals and children. His work is wide ranging from the accessible 'square sheep' and duffle coat boys to more challenging work focusing on isolation and mans struggle. Much of his work depicts his childhood growing up in Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
.
Thorpe has produced the official Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
cards for the then Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician and party leader, William Hague
William Hague
William Jefferson Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001...
. Other plaudits include the 'Best-Selling Published Artist' award in 2000 from the Fine Art Trade Guild
Fine Art Trade Guild
The Fine Art Trade Guild is an organisation representing the fine art and framing industry. Based in London, the Guild operates primarily in the United Kingdom and Ireland, also in a smaller capacity in New Zealand....
-hosted Art & Framing Industry Awards.
Thorpe also holds an honorary Master of Arts degree, collected in 2000 from his hometown's Teesside University. In addition, Thorpe's and Arthaus' wish to support 'good causes' culminated in the launch of the Mackenzie Thorpe Foundation, in 2005. In October 2006 Thorpe produced an exhibition of outdoor monumental sculptures in Kansas City, Missouri and intends to take similar concepts to New Zealand, Australia and the UK.