Originally from the UK, Dan Beard has lived and worked as a professional artist in London and Los Angeles. He currently lives in Helsinki. He has exhibited in the UK, US and Nordic region.
Since 2020 he has been working on a series exploring the properties of tree bark. This is an in depth study that starts with drawing from life and continues with painting back in the studio.
The paintings included on this website are from this current series. They follow the general principles observed in bark structure but investigates further the inherent abstract qualities of it. The result is a study of surface, form, movement, ambiguous planes, complexity of connections and visual texture.
The handling of the content differs throughout the series, some graphic and gestural, others more representational. The same is true of the choice of painting technique. But as with all of his previous work, as much as the works are about a particular theme, they are first and foremost concerned with painting, with pushing it to see where it can go.
Solo Shows
2013 – The Savage Hills, Assembly Rooms, London
2010 – Exposure Gallery, London
2008 – Kulma Galleria, Helsinki, Finland
2008 – Galleria Rajatila, Tampere, Finland
2008 – Punavuoridesign Studiogalleria, Helsinki, Finland
2008 – Brinkkala Galleria, Turku, Finland
2007 – Galleria Taidepanimo, Lahti, Finland
2007 – Galleria Kanneltalo, Helsinki, Finland
2007 – Galleria Oma Huone, Helsinki, Finland
2003 – BRB Gallery, Camberwell, London (Camberwell Arts Festival)
Group Shows
Future
2025 – Uusikuva, Kotka
2025 – Haihara, Tampere
Previous
2024 – +-5, Asbestos, Helsinki
2017 – SPRUNG!, Hunter Shaw Fine Art, Los Angeles
2017 – Got It For Cheap, 00 Gallery LA & traveling exhibitions
2016 – Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London
2016 – Flash Salon, ASC Gallery, London
2016 – Correspond, Interview Room 11 Gallery, Edinburgh
2015 – Plymouth Contemporary Open, Peninsula Gallery, Plymouth
2014 – Teleology, Husk Gallery, London
2014 – Anthology, Charlie Smith Gallery, London
2014 – Royal Academy Summer Show, London
2013 – Crash Open, Charlie Dutton Gallery, London
2010 – Jacobsen Portrait Award (Nordic museum tour)
2009 – Turku Biennale, Aboa Vetus Ars Nova Museum, Turku
2009 – Hackney Wicked Festival, London
2007 – Tampere Artist’s Association, Finland
Awards
2014 – WW SOLO Award Selected Artist
2014 – Short List, Beers Contemporary Award
2009 – Matti Koivurinta Foundation
2008 – Tampere City Professional Artist’s Grant
Related Projects
2014 – Poster artwork for film "Blood Cells" (Venice Biennale Film Festival)
Public Collections
Aboa Vetus Ars Nova Museum, Finland
Publications
"Surface", Turku Biennale, Aboa Vetus Ars Nova Museum
Memberships
Helsinki Artists' Association
Finnish Painters' Union
Education
1996-1999 - University of Northumbria at Newcastle, Fine Art Painting
2012-2013 - Turps Art School, London