About Martin Banks

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Martin Banks was born in Bellshill, Scotland and studied Drawing and Painting at the Glasgow School of Art from 1980-1984. ​He worked as a teacher for 12 years before moving to Germany where he now lives and works. He has been a member of the groundbreaking "Transmission Gallery" in Glasgow as well as being a member of The Phoenix Gallery in New York. His work plays with the idea of structure and movement and is informed by a variety of visual references  including the woven fabric of cloth, towns seen from above , cells and other biological organisms. He likes the idea of a living moving structure and I tries to give that quality to his work.

He says of his work; "My goal is to have the paintings look as natural and complete as possible, as if it is organic. My method is to hold a dialogue with the painting and I react and make changes to the work throughout the painting process. I sometimes feel the painting is giving me hints and clues as to what I need to do next. I like the visceral quality of the paint itself and work and re-work the painted surface using brushes, pain scrapers and pallet knives until I achieve the right effect. This results in a thick, sticky, built-up surface with a three dimensional effect."

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C.V.

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Selected Exhibitions

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2021 International Artist Magazine, Finalist, Annual Abstract and Experimental Art Competition

2021 Jackson's Painting Prize, London, Long List 

2021  Visual Artists Association Award, Short List

2021 Circle Arts Magazine International Competition

2020 International Artist Magazine, Finalist, Annual Abstract and Experimental Art Competition

2019 International Artist Magazine, Finalist, Annual Abstract and Experimental Art Competition

2014 Royal Scottish Academy, Annual Exhibition, Edinburgh

2013 "UPK Art Prize", finalist, Kassel, Germany

2011 “Gallery Artists Group Show“, Phoenix Gallery, Chelsea, New York

        "All the Good and All the Bad" installation of paintings, Phoenix Gallery, New York

2010 EWACC International Competition, finalist, Royal Arcade Gallery, London

2009 Invitation to the Florence Biennale, Fortezza da Basso, Florenz

2008 “New Work”, ENCO Energie Consulting GmbH, Kassel, Germany

        “Facets“ , Fuldabruek Town hall, Dörnhagen, Germany

2007 Air Gallery, Group Show, London

2005 StadtCafé, one person show, Kassel, Germany

2003 British-Japanese Contemporary Art Exhibition, tour of Japan.

        EWACC International On-line Exhibition

        Group Show, Scottish Art Promotions, Caledonian Hotel, Edinburgh 

2002 Group Show, Michael Deutschmann Galerie, Kassel, Germany

2000 Scottish National Open Millenium Competition finalist, Meffin Institute, Forfar, Scotland

2001 Aberdeen Artists Society, Aberdeen Art Gallery

1998 "Signs of Life", one person show, Nancy Smillie Gallery, Glasgow

1997 The Royal Scottish Academy, The Mound, Edinburgh

        Aberdeen Artists Society, Aberdeen Art Gallery

1996 Angus College Purchase Prize, Angus College, Arbroath, Scotland

       "Abstraction", Nancy Smillie Gallery, Glasgow

1995 Selected Works, Art Exsposure Gallery, Glasgow

        Gallery Artists Summer Exhibition, Nancy Smillie Gallery, Glasgow

        Compass Christmas Show, Compass Gallery, Glasgow

1994 "Contemporary Colourists", 90's Gallery, Glasgow

        "Sonnets", Nancy Smillie Gallery, Glasgow

1992 Opening Exhibition, Nancy Smillie Gallery

        "Landscapes", 90's Gallery, Glasgow

         Compass Christmas Show, Compass Gallery, Glasgow

1990 Mayfest Exhibition, Main Fine Art, Glasgow

1987 Behind the Door, 2 person show, Transmission Gallery, Glasgow

1986 Members Group Exhibition,Transmission Gallery

1984 Royal Glasgow Institute, McLellan Galleries, Glasgow