George J Harding

George is a fine artist who specialises in oil painting and is based in Bristol, UK.

His art is an exploration and journey of discovery. His aim is to find a greater sense of self, vision and spirit through the process of making art. He finds authenticity and enjoyment in the many forms, styles and approaches that painting offers.

His paintings explore the extent and limitations of our efforts to contemplate our own experiences and the experiences of the people around us. Where’s the line between internal and external, cerebral and material, real and imagined?

The intention of his work is to celebrate mental health difficulties and differences bringing these aspects of experience into a broader human condition. Through creative expression, he believes these struggles can be transcended and resolved, becoming life affirming and a source of strength for himself and others whose vision resonates with his.

George believes that this journey is for everyone. He wants the value of art to be seen and felt by all.

After studying at Chelsea (UAL) his first solo exhibition, ‘There is Good in Us’, was held at the Bethlem Gallery in 2012 challenging the negative portrayal of people with mental illness in the media. A number of solo exhibitions in London and the Southwest have followed, but he retains close links with the Bethlem Gallery since a referral for mental health difficulties during his studies. His interest in mental health led to exposure as a featured cover artist for the British Journal of Psychiatry and 12 Lancet Psychiatry covers throughout 2015 writing essays for them and commenting on clinical trials surrounding art and its health benefits. George’s work appears in the Wellcome Collection, Bethlem Museum of the Mind and Bristol Museum amongst other public and private collections. In 2017 arts organisation OutsideIn and Arts Health South West, put on a radical new show called Alternative Visions. His painting ‘Pink Rain and Pain’ featured, and was the lead image for the exhibition. Alternative Visions toured the South West showing at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Falmouth Art Gallery, The Wilson in Cheltenham and Poole Museum. In 2020 George was the cover artist of Creatively Minded, a report commissioned by The Baring Foundation on participatory arts and mental health activity across the U.K.

Website: www.georgejharding.co.uk