About the Artist
Michael Demain was born in 1957 in the small mill town of Accrington which lies amongst the Lancashire Pennines. He still lives here with his family to this day.
Michael feels lucky to have been brought up during the 1960s as he feels that there was still some innocence to life and in general people were more genuine. Home computers and DVD games were somewhere far in the future and children spent all their spare time outdoors playing games and exploring the countryside. It was in these early years that he developed a love for wildlife and over the years this love as never waned.
At school he was bright but inevitably became one of the boys and was considered a lost cause and although he had artistic ability this was never picked up on and he eventually left without any qualifications. He spent most of his early working life as a hod carrier but in 1991 after a chance meeting with Steven Townsend his direction in life took a dramatic twist. (“When I saw Steven Townsend’s work for the first time I also saw my future”) Steven who became a good friend encouraged Michael to pursue his goal of becoming an artist and was always available with advice and constructive criticism but he never taught encouraging Michael to develop his own style. Being self taught it was never an easy journey but Michael is now reaping the rewards for the years of hard work and self discipline as his original work is now eagerly sought after by collectors.
As an artist he is a very private person and loves the personal space of his studio where he quietly paints to the soothing music of Enya or the Classics. Not for him the public demonstrations or the teaching of others, he is far to shy for this. He also shuns the opening night at exhibitions unless it is his own one man show and can only remember attending one after much persuasion. He finds this side of the art world rather detached from his own way of life but realises that it is necessary. Although he has won many awards he is not motivated by this and does not seek the limelight that awards bring. He does however like meeting the public at his shows and is only too happy to discuss his work. He is quick to point out that art in itself does not interest him and although he can appreciate good work he only paints himself because it is the one way he can express his love of nature. But he does count himself very fortunate that he can also make a living along the way.
Of his fellow artists he has always loved the work of Carl Brenders and Robert Bateman and is increasingly drawn to the work of Lars Jonsson. Another artist whose work inspires him is Chris Rose (“the light in his work showed me the way”) there is honesty about his work which he can relate to.
Michael
T: (0044) (0) 1254 237378 E: mdemainwildart@aol.com
