Lee Ellis is a British multi-media artist based in Bristol. His insatiable desire to create brings him to embrace different artistic mediums, from printmaking to drawing and painting. The artist has an expressive and bold style, immediately striking with his unusual juxtaposition of bright colours and dark subjects. His paintings, in particular, convey emotional and visceral angst within his figures. From humans to animals, the artist never fails to depict the inner turmoil of his characters. He achieves this effect by employing heavy, raw and expressive brushstrokes that make his painting style poignant and immediately affecting.
Ellis graduated from the University of the West of England, where he studied graphic design in 2006. Disillusioned with the world of graphic design, he unleashed his artistic expression with abstract painting, developing, over the years, a personal and distinctive style.
Ellis has exhibited wildly across the UK from 2007 until now, both in solo and group exhibitions, including Black Rats Projects in Soho. He has recently exhibited at Tribe 16 art festival in London and Show n°31 in Portsmouth.
Cat with bacon on her back
Beach Penguin_B
Self-taught or art school?
A bit of both actually. I went to art school but focussed on design. Although painting was touched upon, it wasn’t until after graduating from a design degree that I took it up and haven’t stopped since. Teaching myself the basics of paintings, taking learnings from other artists and making a ton of mistakes along the way.
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
Any Francis Bacon. Possibly the “Three studies for figures at the base of a crucifixion, 1944” that is currently in Tate Britain. I’ve stood staring at those pieces so many times. Or, Arnulf Reiners “Red Wine Crucifix” which is one of my earliest memories of a painting that made me want to be an artist.
How would you describe your style?
Most likely expressive. Although, I’m not entirely sure a specific style if appropriate as it’s a mix of so many. Some of the portraits lean towards abstract, others surreal and expressive is most frequent.
Insert Pig Joke here Study B
Can you tell us about your artistic process?
Manic. Energetic. Chaotic. Destructive. I throw myself at my work using whatever I can find to move paint around and work in the moment. It’s not the most relaxing thing to watch as it’s fast and destructive. I can spend days applying paint only to scrape half of it away in a matter of minutes.
I don’t know karate, but I know KA-RAZAY_A
Is narrative important within your work?
Sometimes. For individual works, no so much. For series perhaps more so. I mainly concentrate on painting a piece and leave the viewer to create their own narrative. I feel every person will see something different in the works and interpret it in their own way, therefore who am I to tell them what to see or how to read the piece.
Harley Quinn and the pork backdrop
Who are your favourite artist and why?
All-time – Francis Bacon. Without a doubt. His manipulation of the human form and his own destructive qualities resonate with me. Current living artist – Adam Neate. His use of form, colour, mediums and ever-evolving style is awe-inspiring. He pushes boundaries in ways no other artist is doing. He’s paving the way for other artists to follow suit.
Fizzy Cereal B
What or who inspires your art?
Everything and everybody. I find inspiration hits me while I’m busy. It’s as Picasso said “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working”
Mango slippers and other short stories
Instant regret B
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
I built my studio at the end of my garden. It’s a bit of a posh shed that looks so grotty and grimy. It’s covered in paint (inside & out) and is an absolute tip. I often can’t see the floor as it’s littered with discarded paint tubes, masking tape, brushes, drawings and paintings. I love it. It being at the end of the garden is great as I can dash in whenever I feel the urge, which is most of the time.
Do you have any studio rituals?
Drinking coffee is the only ritual. Everything else is more impulsive.
What are you working on currently?
A project that I’m working on purely for my own enjoyment. Creating a new series of works paying homage to two major influences on my creative life – Francis Bacon and comics. Here I merge the two to create a unique take on the often shiny and perfect world of comics.
