GEORGE BEVEN

Untitled
Signed and dated 'George Beven 2000' (Lower left)
Watercolour on Canvas
2000
26.3in x 18.8in (67cm x 48cm)
Painted in 2000

Provenance
Donated by Mr Wolfgang Stange. 

George Beven (1929 – 2023) was a Sri Lankan-English designer, artist, fashion designer and journalist. He is best remembered for his use of colour. He is regarded as one of Sri Lanka's finest figurative painters as well as one of Sri Lanka's greatest contemporary artists. Though he spent a majority of his life in England, he had made occasional visits to Sri Lanka to conduct art exhibitions at various locations such as Barefoot and Lionel Wendt Art Centre.

In 1958 Beven conducted his first solo exhibitions at the Royal Empire society. He also made a name for himself with his ability of using his fingers to oil paint. He cemented his reputation and stamped his authority in toothbrush paintings during the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s and his toothbrush paintings portrayed many famous artists of the time including the likes of Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshmikov from the classical ballet as well as the veteran Hollywood actors such as Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Sylvester Stallone. Additionally, he was an innovative artist , extensively researching and experimenting with posters and gouache using the most unlikely colour combinations in order to captivate the viewer’s gaze.