THE ARTIST:
This text is taken from a larger 8 page article published in the magazine
"International Artist" Issue 12 @ August 2000.
"Martin Decent was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England in 1954 and achieved youthful
success at 16 when his painting was presented to the then Prime Minister,
Harold Wilson, during an official visit to the city.
Continuing his education, he gained an honours degree and became a graphic designer with
the Midland Bank in 1976. Furthering his painting alongside employment he had several
one man shows at the Crucible Theatre Sheffield and during this time he began to exhibit
nationally.
In the 1980's he started his own company specialising in corporate presentations and was
able to split his time more evenly as the demand for paintings increased.
During the past 10 years he has achieved status as a full time artist. His work has been
reproduced as greetings cards, prints and CD covers by the publishing industry. He sells
in the UK through galleries in London, Stratford upon Avon, Harrogate, Sheffield and
"the best gallery in the world" - Word of Mouth. He is a contributor to the Royal Society
of Marine Artists, and in 1998 had a large one man retrospective exhibition at the Buxton
Art Gallery, Derbyshire, supported by the Business Arts Fund.
This year a contemporary series of five limited edition prints encompassing his
"changing room" interiors have been published and distributed by the fine art company:
Solomon & Whitehead Limited. He is currently working towards a one man show being
sponsored by Grant Thornton Accountants which opens later this year in Leeds."
RECENT AND FORTHCOMING EXHIBITIONS:
1996 One Man Exhibition, Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
1996 One Man Exhibition, Derbyshire Gallery, Bakewell, Derbyshire
1997 One Man Exhibition, Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
1997 Demonstration Artist, Annual Sheffield Art Show, South Yorkshire
1997 Joint Exhibition, Monpellier Gallery, Stratford-upon-Avon
1998 Yorkshire Artists, Walker Gallery, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
1998 One Man Exhibition, Clock tower Gallery,South Yorkshire
1998 One Man Exhibition, Buxton Art Gallery, Buxton, Derbyshire
1998 Demonstration Artist, Annual Sheffield Art Show, South Yorkshire
1998 Royal Society of Marine Artists, The Mall Gallery, The Mall, London
1999 Spring Exhibition, Walker Gallery, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
1999 Joint Exhibition, The Beech Gallery, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
1999 Demonstration Artist, Annual Sheffield Art Show, South Yorkshire
1999 Royal Society of Marine Artists, The Mall Gallery, The Mall, London
2000 One Man Exhibition, Simmonite Fine Art, Sheffield,South Yorkshire
2000 One Man Exhibition. The Town Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire
2000 Exhibition Artist, Solomon & Whitehead Fine Art, NEC, Birmingham
2000 Royal Society of Marine Artists, The Mall Gallery, The Mall, London
2001 One Man Exhibition, Leeds City Art Gallery, Leeds, West Yorkshire
PUBLIC AND CORPORATE COLLECTIONS:
Access Information plc
Cheltenham & Gloucester Building Society
Ergo Computers UK Ltd
Futureminds UK
Grant Thornton Accountants
Henry Boot plc
Home Farm Trust
HSBC Bank
John Lewis Partnership
Lloyds TSB Bank
Nabbaro Nathanson Solicitors
The National Trust
Royal Bank of Scotland
Sheffield Health Authority
Tetley Carlsburg
Trent Regional Health Authority
