Mike Bernard was born in Dover in 1957. The artist trained at the West Surrey College of Art & Design, followed by postgraduate studies at the Royal Acadeny Schools. Since then he has exhibited at the Royal Festival Hall and many galleries in London and throughout the UK. He has received many awards for his paintings, including the Stowells Trophy, the Elizabeth Greenshield Fellowship, Silver Longboat Award and the Laing Award. Mike was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in 1997. Mike enjoys experimenting with media and techniques, often using mixed media incorporating collage and acrylics. He also paints in oil and water colour. Through his work the artist develops exciting textures and light, combining these into original semi-abstract images of varying compositions.