Rupert
Denyer
The son of two artists, Rupert Denyer
was always drawn to art, illustration
and design. Having studied design in
the UK, he then spent some years at art
college in Florence and began teaching
there. On returning home, he took up a
high-powered role as Creative Director
with a leading London design agency.
While Rupert has always painted, he
decided some years ago to concentrate
full-time on his vocation – creating
inspiring art. He has exhibited his pleinair paintings and portraits at the Royal
Institute of Oil Painters and the Llewellyn
Alexander Gallery. In 1996, 1997 and 1998
he was shortlisted for the Windsor and
Newton Young Artist of the Year and held
his first one-man show in London in 1997.
Rupert works primarily on location and is
often seen in and around his home town
54
of Lewes, painting in all weathers. He
works mainly in oil, but also charcoal and
pencil, especially for studies and working
drawings for paintings. Rupert undertakes
commissions for landscapes and interiors
as well as for portraiture.
“I’ve never really seen myself as an artist.
I just paint,” says Rupert, as he lifts a fresh
canvas off the easel.
His latest piece is a magnificent view
along Brighton seafront with all the hustle
and bustle of the seaside city - perfectly
encapsulated in vivid colours.
Having recently had a successful
exhibition in Lewes, Rupert has become
well known in the region and his
paintings are increasingly in demand.
Mainly focusing on streetscapes and
landscapes, Rupert has also taken on
portrait and commercial commissions by
those who love his style.
But is the life of an artist a difficult one
or a dreamy existence in the world of
colours and canvas? “A long time ago,
I decided that whatever I did in life I
would always draw and paint. I think
one can get caught up in achieving a
goal - like being a ‘professional artist’
as an end in itself but I don’t look at it
like that. Hunter S Thompson summed
it up perfectly in his letter to Hume
Logan when he said: “The goal is
secondary; it’s the functioning toward
the goal that’s important. Your definitive
act of will makes you an individual, so
if you can get your affairs in a position
that allows you to live the way you
want, you are a lucky man indeed.”
It’s taken me 20 years and I think I’m
almost there,” he says.
Born and raised in Sussex, Rupert’s
parents are from Brighton, having met
at art school, so he was brought up in
a very creative environment. “People
thought I painted because my parents
did but in reality there was always
a magnetic draw within me to paint.
Yes, there was a stage when I thought
about making furniture or becoming
an architect but there was something
that kept nagging at me to paint,’’
Rupert explains.
He trained at Hastings College before
heading up to London to do Illustration
as he felt that’s where he’d learn to draw.
“In truth, it wasn’t a great experience but
I met a great draftsman, Ivan Lapper,
who took me under his wing. When I
left, I was still wondering what it was
all about and then started working, just
temping,” he says.
Then, by pure chance, Rupert discovered
an atelier in Florence, made contact and
before he knew it, there he was, living
in Italy drawing for six hours every day.
He soon started teaching to pay his way
and a couple of years later came home
because the time felt right. “But I left a little
bit of myself there in Italy,’ he sighs.
In the UK Rupert worked as a Graphic
Designer for some of the world’s
leading creative agencies and had the
opportunity to do some wonderful work.
Most notably, he designed The Queen’s
80th birthday stamps as well as the
Diamond Jubilee stamps and he has just
finished a redesign of Bishops Finger Ale
for Shepherd Neame with Stuart Adams
at SAA Creative.
“I’ve never had a problem rolling the
commercial design work in with the
painting - variety is always good,” he
continues. “I r V