Bryan Duncan

In conversation with Humph Hack - Curator

I asked Bryan where his desire to make art came from. He told me - "In school I was pushed towards traditional academic subjects; definitely not my passion. As a result, after A-levels I decided University was not for me and instead entered the world of work!"

But, art was always his interest and having a partner who is a trained designer, helped steer him in that direction over time.

Bryan’s work has evolved; developing his own 'style' and tendencies as he gained skills and confidence. "My earlier work would be far more neutral. I was inadvertently painting for others, whereas I now just focus on what I like, and what I would want in my home".

Bryan even trained as a tattoo artist which added another dimension, to both the process of making art and the end result.

He told me, "I love street art and wherever I visit always make an effort to visit the local 'scene' to see what techniques they are using and how I can incorporate them into elements of my pieces".

More traditionally, he is influenced by the likes of Bauhaus, Hockney, Lichtenstein. William Morris and even Banksy. "My varied style is a reflection of those influences."

Asked why he uses spray paint, Bryan told me, "It can be quite technical when you start to think about pressure, colour components, structure and even the vast array of different caps which all give a slightly different result and finish".

He loves the fact it can be creative and expressive, but gives him complete control over the end result.

"The vibrancy you get from spray paint is second to none. We all see colour differently, so viewers reactions reflect their personal experiences as well".

Bryan’s work switches between geometrics and gestural abstract movement; a result of how he is feeling at the time. His buyers seem to like that variety.

He says, "Life is full of contradiction and balance and this shows in the variety of my pieces. The underlying theme in all my work is they use vibrant colour. I want my artwork to take centre stage and make a real impact wherever they are hung,"

To date, the majority of Bryan’s collectors are repeat customers, which fills him with pride. "When someone returns to purchase again and again you must be doing something right. It’s the best feedback you can get,"

Bryan has sold his paintings to customers across Europe, in the USA, and even Australia.

When asked about the future, Bryan told me, "My hopes are simple. I want art to become my life. For so long, outside responsibilities and focuses have made art a hobby and something I obsess about over at the weekends, but I want to take it to the next stage, exhibit and become an artist full time."

One thing is for sure – Bryan has so many ideas and avenues he wants to explore - and so the dream would be to go and explore them.

April 2024

Selected works

 Click here to see Bryan's other works  See Other Featured Artists