Southport artist Neil Prior is in demand for creating perfect paw-traits of people’s pets

Self-taught professional artist, Neil Prior from Ainsdale, who needs no introduction to the region, is making a welcome return to The ArtHouse in Southport as Artist of the Month (4th Feb – 4th March).

Although Neil’s output is all encompassing he is still probably best known locally for his realistic dog portraiture having now completed over 25 private commissions since arriving in the North West.

Originally from Christchurch in Dorset, Neil recently moved into the area with his wife, Martha and their two Bedlington Terriers, Bruce and Herbert, who equally stepped into the limelight by making local news in 2019 due to eating palm oil that had washed up on Ainsdale Beach from the Maltese ship, Kimya, that capsized nearly 30 years ago after storms dislodged its toxic cargo.

Having retired from full service as a police officer with the Leicestershire constabulary in 2018, Neil has now finally swapped his truncheon for his paintbrush, and switched his life-long love of oil painting into a professional business as a full-time Dog Portrait artist.

Neil works from photographs either supplied by the dog owner or offers photographic sessions of the dog with a view to obtaining a quality image of the subject for reference purpose.

Southport artist Neil Prior with Bruce and Herbert

Unbelievably, Neil only began painting in 2008, after attending a one day workshop on how to paint in the Bob Ross Wet-on-Wet Oil Painting technique facilitated by Jayne Good which he quickly followed up with a further weekend course with professional Fine Artist, Mike Skidmore.

During the next decade, Neil developed his own personal style and techniques with oils, resulting in two solo exhibitions in 2017 and 2018 back in Hinckley, Leicestershire.  His life-like portrait of ‘Kinta the Tiger’, which is currently on display at The Barrel House in Birkdale Village, admirably shows his impressive skill in articulating the animal form in oils.

“During my first solo exhibition in June 2017, I completed the portrait of the Malaysian Tiger and entitled it KINTA, which was an anagram of the exhibition venue (ATKIN’S BUILDING) and just happened to be the name of the river that runs through Malaysia where these beautiful animals are from.”

Over the years, Neil’s gregarious attitude to art has seen him expand his repertoire across a diverse range of subjects: “I started using oils in 2012 and offered bespoke commissions over a variety of subjects from landscapes, seascapes, portraiture, still life, wildlife and nature and lately, abstract works. I registered as a self employed business in November 2019 continuing to paint commissions and exhibit in local galleries. Since moving to Southport I have found an increase in the demand for Dog Portraiture and have been concentrating on this in my new home studio.”

Southport artist Neil Prior at work

Neil always enjoys pushing his painting skills to the limit to achieve as realistic an interpretation as possible.  He invariably breathes life into his paintings by first painting the eyes of each sitter believing that this then aids him building up and completing a more realistic representation: “I believe painting the eyes early on gives me a better understanding and feeling of the subject, almost an empathy with the animal.“

Future plans include taking exhibitions of his work further afield across the North West.

Always willing to share his talent, as part of this year’s Arts Trail in Southport, Neil ran an Open Studio/Exhibition in addition to facilitating an oil painting class for Art Students at Southport College.

Oscar the dachsund by Southport artist Neil Prior

As well as the original oils, Neil’s paintings will also be available as ink-jet printed giclée prints in various dimensions, both framed and unframed.

More of Neil’s work is available to view on Facebook via Neil Prior Artist and he can be contacted for commissions @ neilprior.com.

Certainly not one to be missed, this latest showing by Neil will be on display at the ArtHouse, Eastbank Street, Southport from 4th February 2023 – 4th March 2023.  The gallery is open Tuesday – Friday 10am-3pm, Saturday 11am-4pm. 

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