Russell West

Russell West’s vividly coloured, dripping paint creations captivate the viewer, drawing them into a three-dimensional maze of layers, hollows, colours, and patterns. Each piece can take up to a year to complete, with West meticulously applying prepared layers and strips of pure paint onto wire and pins arranged on a board. The final work is partly shaped by the natural effects of gravity and the organic flow of the paint.

West’s mastery of paint—its weight and movement—is a skill he has honed personally over the past 25 years. His distinctive approach is unparalleled, with no other artist matching the ingenuity of his technique.

Born and raised in Portsmouth, West initially worked as a graphic artist until 1989. He later moved to South East Asia, where he spent years creating art in Hong Kong, the Philippines, and India, before eventually returning to Britain.

Much of West’s work seeks to reflect the chaotic living conditions he has observed throughout his life. From the bomb-damaged homes of his childhood to the slums of Bombay, the South American favelas, and Hong Kong’s Kowloon Walled City, these environments have left a lasting impression on his art.

His works, including Favela and Happy Shanty, evoke scenes of washing lines strung between bustling slums. The bold patterns of the Soho series echo the vibrant neon signs of Chinatown, while pieces like First Light suggest wet pavements and mist-filled city mornings.