Oliver Winconek

OilsSouth East EnglandMidlandsNationwideTalks

5 Mar

Oliver Winconek is a full-time portrait and figurative artist working from his studio in Weedon Bec, Northamptonshire. He is an oil painter with a focus on people and the objects that define them.

As an artist, he is drawn to the personal; seeking out the details that reveal who someone is and using those elements to tell their story on canvas. The aim is for viewers to not just see the person, but to understand something deeper about them.

While Oliver’s work is grounded in realism, he embraces bold brushstrokes, impasto techniques and rich, expressive colour to add depth and emotional resonance. These stylistic choices bring vitality to each piece and allow the personality of the subject to shine through.

Each painting is a direct response to the individual being portrayed. As a portrait artist, it is crucial that Oliver’s work captures more than a likeness; it must also reflect the essence of who that person is. Through conversation and observation, Oliver explores what makes each subject unique.

Oliver says “The greatest joy of portraiture is the people I meet along the way. Every interaction brings a new perspective and story. I’m inspired by the raw, honest approach of artists like Jenny Saville and Tracey Emin - artists unafraid to reveal vulnerability and truth through their work."

Working as an artist for over 20 years, Oliver has shown his work in over 100 group and society exhibitions as well as being the subject of 4 solo exhibitions. Oliver gained wider recognition after appearing on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, where he painted actor Trevor Eve from life.
His work has been exhibited in prestigious venues such as The Mall Galleries, The Royal College of Art, and Saatchi Gallery.
Among his notable portrait commissions are Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE, Keith Brymer Jones, Jamie Staff MBE, Joe McFadden, and Laurie Kynaston.

His paintings are held in numerous private and national collections, solidifying his reputation as a leading contemporary portrait artist.

Offers: Demonstrations, Workshops, Mini workshops, Talks, Online sessions, Appraisals and Critiques, Holidays

Media: Oil paint (Traditional, Alkyd and Water based) on board, canvas, metal panel.

Subjects:

Portraiture – from life or photographs
Still life – from life or photographs
Composition – portraiture or still life
Dog/animal portraiture
Drawing the figure/portrait
Proportion guidance
How to paint a still life from life
How to paint a still life from a photograph
Colour mixing / colour theory
How to mix skin/fleshtones
Landscape painting from a photography
Painting demo in the style of Monet, Manet, Sisley, Cezanne, Gaugin, Van Gogh, Lucien Freud, David Hockney, Hopper, Schiele, Picasso. I’m also happy to consider a painting demo in the style of other artists and also offer demos/analysis of particular notable works on request.
The process of completing a portrait commission from start to finish