About The Artists

Bev Houlding

• Born 1955. Birmingham, England.
• Studied at Goldsmiths College 1974-77.
• Taught in London schools 1977-84.
• Set up Screens Gallery with Mark in Fareham 1984.
• Moved studio to Emsworth 1990.
• Moved to Cornwall 1996.
• Renamed as Houlding and Houlding 2006.

Bev's work evolved through the years of making screens, during which time all sorts of materials and techniques were used. She became well known for her carving and painting of these pieces.

Bev continues to carve and paint her images and she now has a unique signature in the field of contemporary art.

The work continues to explore themes of human relationships always observing and drawing as fleeting glimpses and settings pass by. The sketches are then honed down and composed with architectural meticulousness. Once satisfied with the drawing she then transforms them into wood panels of sublime textures ,held together with her trade mark palette of colours.

Mark Houlding

• Born 1950. Abadan, Iran.
• Studied at, Maidstone College of Art 1970-73.
• The Royal College of Art. 1973-76.
• Lectured part time at Croydon College of Art and Islington Adult Ed. 1976-86.
• Set up Screens Gallery with Bev in Fareham 1984.
• Moved studio to Emsworth, Hants, 1990.
• Moved to Cornwall 1996.
• Re-named to Houlding and Houlding in 2006.

Mark's work is an exploration of shape and colour. He trained as a printmaker and has always held on to the disciplines involved, he likes to work with a strong method and is often inspired by the medium he is using.

The early fruit pieces were made using a 2'" printmaking roller and thick oil based printmaking inks. Recently he has found a new process entailing the use of spirit based wood stains. These are tipped poured and squirted onto the surface and allowed to flow and merge, resulting in an amazing freedom and luminosity.

The subject of fruit continues as the shapes are simple and yet very sensual, the image is a simple carrier for the continued love of colour and composition.