Mike Shepley is a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art and an Andrew Grant Scholar, where he studied architecture under Sir Ralph Cowan and post-graduate studies in Town and Country Planning. A favourite personal quote from the principal was when, on reviewing a pastel-coloured stapled cardboard model of his diploma thesis project, Sir Ralph described Shepley as a 'Rogue architect'. 'It was a modest endorsement, but at least he did describe me as an architect - that was encouraging as a young student in 1967!' Life drawing and a keen interest in drawing and painting in the early 60s, then under the direction of Sir Robin Philipson, saw Shepley interacting with fellow contemporary Edinburgh College of Art students, including John Bellany, Alexander Moffat and Gordon Bryce. And when, as often it did, discourse led to a nearby Tollcross pub, Milne's Bar, both Bellany and Moffat's great pal, poet and writer Alan Bold would complete what they themselves called 'The Big Three'. Shepley was content to sup his pint and listen. 'It was such a vibrant, exciting time for Scottish art, particularly in Edinburgh and I even considered swopping the architectural drawing board for brushes and paints. I've now come full circle...' However, Mike Shepley's formative artistic interests come from his father, Clifford Shepley, also a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art in Drawing & Painting, who subsequently founded the Department of Medical Illustration at Edinburgh University in 1935.
Published in Al Khaleej & Beyond (Motivate Publishing November 2007) Mike has spent much of the last 25 years in the Middle East, based in Dubai, running his multi-media and broadcast video production company. He shares his time nowadays between Arabia and Scotland, where he concentrates on his painting, which is attracting considerable interest from collectors, critics and the media. He also donates paintings on a regular basis to worthy causes and charities. A watercolour donated to the North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF) fetched £1,800.00 at auction at The Portland Gallery in 2006. In 2007, an oil, ink and collage composition gifted to the Dubai International Art Center, was purchased at the opening the DIAC annual exhibition by the Dubai Cultural Foundation for permanent display in their collection. And in 2008, a Shepley watercolour raised funds at auction for Al Noor Center for Children with Special Needs in the United Arab Emirates. The Dubai International Art Center gold medal, and more recently in 2006, the Judges' Choice Award at the annual members' exhibition and the Dubai International Watercolour Challenge, have been added to a growing list of prizes and international awards. As well as a passion for wildlife, fish and angling, cooking, coastal landscapes and cityscapes offer Mike unlimited scope in his paintings. You'll find my personal website at http://www.tcweb.co.uk/mikeshepley Showcase | Exhibitions | Contact Mike Shepley Top | Other Artists # ms08/000 |
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