Joe Fenton (artist)

Jonathan "Joe" Simon Bramley-Fenton (born 17 December 1971 in Hampstead, London^[1]) is an English artist, designer, sculptor and illustrator, who works in monochrome using graphite, ink and acrylics on paper. He has worked on a number of feature films as a concept designer and sculptor, including The Brothers Grimm directed by Terry Gilliam^[2] and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy directed by Garth Jennings.^[3] Fenton's intricate drawings can be found in art galleries, corporate and private collections around the world.

Fenton became internationally-known through his first large scale drawing rendered in graphite, acrylics, gouache, and ink, called Solitude. Completed in 2011, Solitude took over 10 months to produce, with its size being approximately 8 feet wide and 5.5 feet high.^[4]

Career

Joe has illustrated 2 children's picture books while living in New York City: What's Under the Bed? (published in 2008)^[5] and Boo! (published in 2010) by Simon and Schuster.^[6]What's Under the Bed? was selected by Cheerios' spoonful of stories programme to be resized and placed in 1.5m boxes of Cheerios across the US.^[7]

In 2014, he was commissioned to create a one-of-a-kind guitar for PRS Guitars signature artist (and lead guitarist of rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge) Mark Tremonti.^[8]

Fenton also produces and directs short films showing his art process, such as The Lullaby (2011)^[9] and Flight (2014).

Background

Fenton's art work is influenced by many of the early surrealists. Embracing the grotesque by his employment of Hieronymus Bosch-like figures that are gangly, writhing and cramped, Fenton also uses motifs that suggest Eastern philosophy and Middle Eastern architecture whilst maintaining a feel for European Baroque and Rococo with complex frame ornamentation and plant-like details. A common theme in all his works which recurs again and again is that of death and the fear of death. The fanciful and even freakish nature of his images seem to spring from the need to distance himself from the fear while at the same time acknowledging it.^[4]

Fenton has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Sculpture from the Wimbledon College of Art.^[10]

Personal

Fenton grew up in Bath, London, and Southern Spain and currently resides in London, England with his wife Iji Asfaw-Fenton.

He is the son of John Bramley-Fenton and Susan Mardon, the half-brother of drummer Julian Fenton, and the uncle of actress Nell Tiger Free.

External links

• Website: http://joefentonart.com/
• Joe Fenton on Twitter: @fentonjs
• Joe Fenton on Behance: joefenton
• Joe Fenton's channel on YouTube: joefentonart
• Joe Fenton on Facebook: joefentonartist

References