Born in London in 1963, I studied architecture at Manchester University and Kingston Polytechnic. My artistic journey began in a deeper way after a soulful sojourn in the Sinai desert. I began painting majestic landscapes of the mountainous terrain, populated by tiny figures who were on their own spiritual odysseys. Later, these landscapes transformed into more illustrative, narrative works on Old Testament themes. I’m now combining my love of the Biblical landscape and architecture in new works. It's important for me to be painting, drawing, or making something every day. In Israel since 1993, I live in Raanana with my wife Lili and son Ariel.
Exhibitions
2024 River of Life Fellowship, Moab, Utah (permanent exhibition of my complete Torah series)
2021 Royal Society of British Artists, Annual Exhibition, London
2018 The Stone Gallery Centenary Exhibition, Burford, Oxfordshire
2016 Association of British Naïve Artists, Annual Exhibition.
2014 Israel Association of Illustrators, Raanana.
2012 Center for Conservative Judaism, Jerusalem.
2011 Brodt Center for Jewish Culture, Tel-Aviv.
2010 Hod VeHadar synagogue, Kfar Saba.
2008 “Expo 2008” the Jerusalem Theater.
2007 Dizengoff Shopping Centre, exhibition of The Sunshine Monkeys, a cartoon fantasy, Tel-Aviv.
2005 “Open House” exhibition, Municipality of Ra’anana, Israel.
2004 Elizabeth Gallery, Ra’anana, Israel.
2003 Oklahoma Restaurant, Herzlia Pituach, Israel.
2001 Ben Uri Gallery, London
1992 Royal Institute of British Architects, London (competition exhibition).
Books Illustrated
2023 Introducing the Old Testament, by Rolf A. Jacobson and Michael J. Chan, Baker Academic Publishing, (story artwork).
2022 The Upper Room (international Christian periodical), (cover artwork)
2021 Remembering the Unexperienced, by Stephen Campbell, Bonn University Press. An enquiry into trans-generational collective memory and the revelation at Sinai (cover artwork).
2019 Redeeming Relevance in the Book of Leviticus, by Francis Nataf, Urim Publications, Jerusalem (cover artwork).
2018 Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible, by Elizabeth F. Caldwell, Carol A. Wehrheim, Westminster John Knox Press. (Cover artwork and story illustrations).
2016 Redeeming Relevance in the Book of Deuteronomy, by Francis Nataf, Urim Publications, Jerusalem (cover artwork).
2016 Erzähl Es Deinen Kindern (Tell it to your Children) Children’s Bible Volumes 1 – 5, by Bruno Landthaler and Hanna Liss, Ariella Books, Berlin. (Cover artwork and chapter illustrations).
2010 Three Men in a Boat, by Jerome K. Jerome (adaptation), Burlington Books
2009 A Foreigner in Australia, by Fiona Smith, Burlington Books
2005 A Sense of Danger, by Tracy Simmonds, Burlington Books
2003 Sanouk and the Elephant, by Maureen Reynolds, Burlington Books
2003 A Foreigner in New York, by Ramon Ybarra Rubio Burlington Books
2002 A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, by Mark Twain (adaptation), Burlington Books
2001 Danger at Shark Rock, by Pauline Francis, Burlington Books
2001 A Foreigner in Britain, by Ramon Ybarra Rubio, Burlington Books
1983 Modern Jewish History, by Robin Spiro, (unpublished project)
1982 Quy’s Journey, by Louise Morris – privately published – an English language reader for Vietnamese refugees.
Newspaper Cartoons and Illustrations
2016 The Jerusalem Post – illustration for article by Gideon Sylvester
1995-97 The Jerusalem Post and The Jerusalem Report – illustrations and political cartoons
1993 The Independent and The Daily Telegraph – political leader-page cartoons, with Peter Waddington (writer)
The landscape can be a depiction of our own emotional world. When I was going through a period of depression, I was naturally drawn to the barren landscapes of the desert. Painting these harsh, inhospitable but majestic vistas helped me rebuild my inner world. By embodying my inner state in my art, I was able to see and feel not only how dark it was, but also how strong. Over time, my inner world became more alive, and as a result, the art I was making became more colourful, more populated, and more human. The Exodus story is a symbol of deep psychological transformation: Wandering the desert for 40 years is the agent for the birth of a nation. Likewise, perhaps, my own most difficult ‘desert period’ eventually gave birth to my more colourful work as a Biblical artist.
“The psychological rule says that when an inner situation is not made conscious, it happens outside, as fate.”
You can read an interesting approach to connecting with the unconscious via the landscape at this link:
https://bradwcarr.medium.com/exploring-the-inner-landscape
You can see some of my current work on my Originals page.
Below: Abbas Pasha, (dawn in Sinai). 120cm x 160cm, Oil on Canvas (2002).
Note the two tiny figures sitting around their campfire at the bottom of the wadi, making their morning coffee.
