Collection: Ben Hopkins
Born in Edinburgh in 2003, Ben Hopkins is a young Scottish painter whose work is rooted in the direct observation of landscape, light and atmosphere. Working exclusively from life, Hopkins seeks to capture the fleeting character of a particular place and moment, whether found in the natural landscape or within the built environment.
After studying at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in Dundee, Hopkins continued his education at the Barcelona Academy of Art, where he pursued a classical approach to painting. Following a scholarship and the John Preston Award, he remained at the Academy for a second year, developing his technical and observational practice.
Working primarily en plein air, Hopkins is interested in the experience of being physically present within a landscape. His paintings respond not only to what he sees, but to the atmosphere of a place—the changing light, movement, sounds and sensations that accompany it. A busy motorway, a quiet alleyway, wind moving through trees or clouds passing across the sky can all become subjects, provided they offer something worth looking at closely.
The changing conditions of painting outdoors are an important part of Hopkins' process. Fleeting light, shifting weather and the movement of people and vehicles introduce an element of unpredictability, often requiring him to work quickly or return to a location at a particular time of day. These challenges become part of the story behind each painting, with the finished work acting as both an observation and a personal memory of the experience.
Hopkins' work has been exhibited in Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Barcelona and Budapest, and is held in private collections. His exhibitions include the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and Royal Society of Marine Artists at London's Mall Galleries. His awards include a Highly Commended recognition from the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, a scholarship from the Barcelona Academy of Art, the John Preston Award and the Murray Beith Hope Scott Award.