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LONDON by RENOS

Reno's London drawings as have been used ans available for any use... from Limited Editions to Calendars see more

About the Artist

Renos was born in Paphos (Cyprus) in 1944 and spent his youth exploring the ruins of ancient cultures, the Temple of Aphrodite and by the shores of the Paphian Sea and coast which continues to be one of his stronger inspirations to the present day.

He came to London early in 1964 to study art and followed a career in Graphic Arts. At the time he was living near Portobello Road and the bohemian atmosphere was a great influence on his art. He studied life classes and composition at St Martin's School of Art, then completed an Art Foundation course at Sir John Cass and he was a regular visitor to Whitechapel Gallery opposite. He was awarded a scholarship and completed a three year course of Graphic Arts at Ealing School of Art (1967-70), alongside Freddie Mercury and Brian May of the rock group “Queen”.

Finally, he completed his arts education with a specialist Advanced Typographic Design Degree at the  London College of Printing.

Renos started with Associated Newspapers as a retouching artist with the Evening News and then with the Daily Mail.

A painting in memory of Freddie "Queen" with whom he was doing graphics at Ealing.

The artist in his exhibition (1999) with the Mayor and a few Councillors of Barnet.

Renos in his Studio.

In all his life he worked with his own business, assisted by his wife Anna with a Design and Advertising Consultancy...see www.toplineart.co.uk and was involved with some small leisure publications. However, his main career from 1974 till he took early retirement in 2004 to concentrate on his painting, was with Associated Newspapers and the Daily Mail in particular where he was a retouching artist at first and then in the electronic arts department, working to strict deadlines daily.

From a young age, Reno's special interest was in painting. This took him away many times from his contemporaries as any free time available was devoted to his art exploration and workshop activity. The major turning point in reverting with more power and emotion to his painting, was his visit to Nepal in the spring of 1997. On his return he started to work day and night and produced some of his rare etchings in the workshops of Byam Shaw School of Art. He then assembled all his early and later years work into a retrospective exhibition at the Hilton in Nicosia during the same year. This was followed by a successful exhibition of his works from Nepal in early 1999 which gave him enormous encouragement.
Some of his early works and those which followed can be viewed in his permanent Gallery at www.toplineart.co.uk in "Art & Gallery".

With his wife at the House of Lords Special Reception and his two works.

He is a long time resident of Barnet and a regular participant in local art activities and exhibitions. He has one of his works, The Stupa of Kathmandu in the permanent private Zambellas collection in Nicosia. In 2004 he won the opportunity to participate in the House of Lords special finalists competition to select British Landscapes for their permanent collection. Two of his three submitted works were accepted. Many of his other works are in Private Homes, Collections, Institutions and Organisations.

The Stupa of Kathmandu as exhibited in a special exhibition of selected works in Nicosia.

A PERSONAL STATEMENT

The blue skies and the sea of the Eastern Mediterranean plus the Aegean with boats and coastal seascapes provide me with continuous stimulation. They remain the memories of my childhood and still are my most constant inspiration.

In contrast the lush and green landscapes of England such as the Lake District or the active golf course, the coastal beauty of Cornwall and beyond, the cityscapes from St Albans to central London are just as stimulating.

In general, as an artist with a great passion in preserving and exploring our natural surroundings, anything that relates to life, human activity and the beauty under the heavens with all the glory of form, colour and light, these find their way onto my canvases or paper.

EXHIBITIONS

Since the 1960's Renos participated in many local group exhibitions. He has become more active since the middle of 2005 with local arts and exhibitions, not just in Hertfordshire but also the surrounding areas and London of course. Some of these exhibitions are featured in the "Activities" page of this website.

In deep conversation with the Ambassador of Nepal in London, in his 1999 Nepal exhibition

SOLO and SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
  • 1963 - Paphos Town Hall, first Solo exhibition
  • 1997 - Hilton Nicosia, Retrospective work
  • 1999 - Central London, work inspired by his visit to Nepal
  • 1999 - North Finchley, work inspired by the Blues of Greece and Cyprus
  • 2001 - Hellenic Centre - Central London, images from the Sea with K. Kotsiofides
  • 2003 - Hellenic Centre - Central London, Blue and Sea with K. Kotsiofides
  • 2005 - Gallery 47 – Central London with selected group of artists
  • 2006 - London Borough of Barnet, Solo exhibition to assist the Mayor of Barnet charity
  • 2007 - Hellenic Centre – Central London, with two others artists
  • 2008 - Britannia Centre - North London, with sculptor Cos Gerolemou
  • 2009 - Britannia Centre - North London, Summer Vision - co-ordinated a small group of north London artists
  • 2010 - Britannia Centre - North London, group exhibition of selected artists
  • 2010 and 2011 - Bank side Gallery, amongst the 100 finalists for the "London Lives" exhibition
  • 2011 - Britannia Centre - North London, Solo exhibition of this recent works
  • 2012 - Co-ordinating an exhibition of his art group The Barnet Collection in aid for the Mayor of Barnet's Charity appeal. Some of this latest works were displayed.