SiteOwner, Author at The Majlis Gallery - Haven for Artists AND Art Lovers.

Trevor Waugh

Born in London in 1952 Trevor studied at the Slade School of Fine Art from 1970 to 1974, amongst his tutors were Sir William Coldstream and David Hockney. He graduated with a BA in Fine Arts and then went on to study illustration under Ernest Jones at Croydon College of Art gaining a distinction. Obviously a talented young man he then spent 9 years working as freelance illustrator for Penguin, Heineman, Cassell, Collins and the BBC returning to Fine Art in 1988 when he moved to the Cotswolds.

Alison and Trevor first met in 1995 when he was tutoring an art group in Cornwall He had just returned from a very exciting trip to the USA and had travel in his bones. He took the Middle East straightaway and was out painting on his first morning in Dubai. These early paintings focused on the amazing variation to the light values through the day. Many visits have ensued since all producing an abundance of sketches watercolours and oils and more recently books.

Trevor has a strong following both here and in the UK his peregrinations around the world have included Morocco, Turkey, Venice, Egypt, Florence, Oman and India. He always finds time to pass his knowledge and skill on to others and has produced a number of books and videos on the art of sketching drawing and painting. Never far from his guitar or his sketch books, Trevor is a man who relishes in all things visual and stimulating. Now based in a wonderful new studio with ecclesiastical associations Trevor has a new base from which to work but there is always a trip in the offing

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Sylvia Woodcock Clarke

A native of Scotland with a home in Cyprus and a strong affinity with the Middle East, Sylvia delights in capturing the extraordinary actions of ordinary people.

A very serious painter who strongly believes that art need not always be about serious subjects. She has an incredible capacity for visual recall, with a mind like a sketch book, full of moments witnessed and experienced, drawings and paintings flow in her bold fluid style, a product of years of working at her craft.

There are of course also many many actual sketch books full to the brim with anecdotal drawings, young girls in a café, shisha smokers , a crowd watching cricket on a shop window TV, a dad at the zoo with his young children, nothing is too mundane or prosaic.

An avid fisherman and story teller Sylvia is delightful company, her streetwise philosophy as entertaining as her paintings her company never dull. Her paintings are definitely in the collectable category with her Middle Eastern and allegorical pieces much sought after.

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Spencer W Tart

Spencer W Tart (also known as Bill ) was born in Chesterfield, England. He qualified as an architect and worked for many years in Canada and the USA before returning to Bath, England where he now lives.

In 1980 Spencer was invited to work as an architect on a conservation study of the historic city of Old Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. This was his introduction to the Middle East, which has remained the main subject matter of his work. Whilst sketching and painting was always a small part of his work as an architect, this quickly became more serious and interest in his watercolour paintings grew quickly during the 1980’s.

His continued explorations have taken him to many different regions across the Middle East, where the different architectural styles and spectacular geographical features have provided constant inspiration. His work has become a valuable record of the architectural heritage of Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E. and the Oman.

Many of the Suks, landscapes and street scenes in Dubai, Bahrain, Riyadh, Jeddah and Muscat have proved to be very popular with both the local and ex-patriot communities. His style of watercolour continues to be admired wherever he exhibits, and his pictures feature in many private collections of discerning buyers around the world. Many are now an accurate historical record of a bygone age.

His work is exhibited in selected galleries across the Middle East on a continuous basis.

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Sophie Walbeoffe

British born artist Sophie Walbeoffe has painting in her veins. Her French great grandparents were both painters living in Antibes, France during 1920s. Her great uncle established the Courtauld Institute of Art. She studied painting at the Wimbledon School of Art with excellent tutors, Maggie Hambling and Prunella Clough only to mention a few. Cecil Collins at the Central School of Art, who was inspired by Eastern spirituality, also guided Sophie. Following a meditation exercise, Collins would make his class paint using hands, mouth and feet. From his teaching Sophie adopted a spontaneous form of working in which both hands are used. “It makes you use your soul – it is more impulsive and creates magic straight away.”
Sophie arrived in Dubai as a painter in the late 80s, drawn by stories of the desert landscapes and the Bedouins who have gracefully managed to maintain their traditions. Whilst painting in Dubai for two years she learnt about British explorer Wilfred Thesiger, and subsequently in 1988 when she was the official artist for Operation Raleigh in Kenya, she met Wilfred and painted his portrait. After the initial culture shock of living in tents in the bush for weeks, she not only fell in love with Africa, but also met her future husband Piers Simpkin, who was living with the Samburu warriors of the Northern Frontier District. After 10 years painting in the north of Kenya, Sophie and Piers moved to Nairobi with their daughter Lara and son Jasper, bringing with them Piers’ herd of fifty camels, which continue to be a constant source of inspiration for Sophie’s paintings.

It is the timelessness of Kenya, the people, the wild beasts and the landscape that attract her most, but Sophie often returns to paint in England and Europe, enjoying the challenge of contrasting landscapes. Through 2002 to 2005, Sophie was regularly drawn out of Kenya back to the souks, spices and the exotic world of the Middle East, spending several months painting in the deserts of Oman and the Gulf.

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Mostafa Darehbaghi

Mostafa Darehbaghi was born in the Tehran, Iran, where he developed a profound appreciation of art at an early age. This inner interest inspired him to continue a professional life in art leading to his graduation from the University of Arts of Tehran. The intervening prolific years have yielded 28 solo and more than 120 group exhibitions throughout Iran, Dubai, US, Sweden, India, Belgium, Cyprus, and Croatia. Mostafa has attained many prestigious awards and honors. His works are permanently displayed in prominent public and private collections including Carnegie Hall New York, Georgian Bank of Atlanta, Alliance Française of Atlanta, The Armory Show New York, Sidney Marcus Foundation (Home Depot founded) in Atlanta, Consulate of France in Atlanta, Tehran Museum of Modern Art, Embassy of Italy in Tehran, Embassy of Brazil in Tehran and in a private dwelling on The World Dubai. He is currently based in Atlanta , USA and Tehran.

Mostafa’s work often features harmonic blends of geometric patterns incorporated with figurative subjects that create a unique abstract atmosphere. His style retains a visual complexity of symbolic elements that are also influenced by nature.

In 1995, Mostafa Darehbaghi had his first show at The Majlis Gallery. We were delighted to introduce his artwork to Dubai’s developing art scene. He has held many solo and group exhibitions at Majlis Gallery since, becoming an established member of Dubai’s art scene “The dynamic movement of this city is extremely exciting, it directly influences me and my state of mind.” is how he describes his relationship with this part f the world.

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Mohammed Dib Masri

Mohammed’s work is fundamentally a celebration of the human figure. Some recline, gaze, dance, others discourse, stroll, exchange information. All have a whimsical quality, and suggest conversations and situations in process.

Each painting is a title which provides a platform from which the viewer can begin their journey of exploration: ‘Companions’, ‘Hesitation’, ‘Young Love’, ‘Dreaming’, ‘A Fresh Complaint’, ‘Shared Life’, ‘Going Home’, ‘The Enthusiast’, are just some of the works which Mohammed has painted to portray the enormous versatility of the human figure, and how it can be used to convey emotions, passions, impressions.

Mohammed’s work is rich with memory. In general terms, it conveys a sense of life’s journey, and on a more personal level it tells of his emergence from his childhood in Syria to adulthood in Saudi Arabia. He says:

“The child that came from the city of Hama, with its detached stony houses, narrow alleys, scent of jasmine and music from the water wheel, still lives within me. I still see the light and hues of my country, as they mutate through the seasons, defining time through colour, sound and taste.”

The artist finds himself continuously inspired by man as he conducts his life – his naivety, simplicity, daily concerns, and frequent pleasures. The result is paintings which are evocative, nostalgic and unapologetically romantic.

For many of his formative years, Mohammed explored different artistic techniques and mediums, although recently he has concentrated on painting with traditional oils and watercolours.

The artist was born in 1942 and graduated from the University of Fine Arts in Damascus. Mohammed has exhibited extensively, both in group and solo exhibitions, and has participated regularly in the annual exhibition at the National Museum in Damascus.

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Michael Chaikin

Michael Chaikin was born in 1957 in the United Kingdom and became a doctor in 1981. He had always attended art classes in his spare time mostly making ceramics until one day he swapped to sculpture-modeling classes. This was the greatest shock of his life, he completely fell in love with sculpture and from then on changed his career path. He first went to Eastbourne College Art College and then Falmouth Art.

College and graduated with a BA Hons in fine art in 1990. Michael has always been fascinated at the workings of machinery, taking toys and train-sets apart as a child and has always loved the works of Alexander Calder- the mobile maker, and Jean Tinguely- the mad kinetic sculptor. The original fascination with the interior workings of the human body eventually emerged as a desire to create movement and form in sculpture. He has not practiced medicine since 1999, concentrating on sculpture hosting numerous one man and private commissions throughout Europe. Working mainly in copper ( a material greatly influenced by world financial markets) his sculptures benefit from being placed outdoors where they elements give them life and Enhance their patina. Though akin to childrens mobiles these fabulous sculptures are so much more.

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Khaled Al Saai

Khaled is a man wise beyond his years. Deeply contemplative and quietly confidant he is not only a driving force behind modern Arabic calligraphic practice but also a passionate advocate of a wider understand of this formidable art.

Recognition of his rightful place in the genre comes not only from art houses, museums, universities and collectors worldwide but also from fellow calligraphers who on numerous occasions have awarded him the title of Master of Calligraphy in both modern and traditional categories. Initially this ability to stride the role of being a painter and a calligrapher was a dilemma until with maturity he accepted that the two exist alongside, no decision had to be taken, in fact the discipline of confirming to the edicts of the seven “pillars” of Arabic Calligraphy, Thuluth, Naskh, Tualeeq, Kufic, Diwani, Diwani Jali Jali and Regga feeds his abstract spirit allowing his painterly being to soar.

Khaled’s fascination with the written word was kindled and nurtured through growing up in Syria, in a family to whom creativity, visual, musical, poetic and edible! was part of daily life. His work is often a reflection on the emotions of freedom and discovery associated with his childhood.

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Kevin Dean

A graduate from the Royal College of Art in 1982. Kevin Dean has illustrated numerous publications, designed textiles, murals and decorations for architecture.

His keen interest in the environment, flora and fauna is reflected in much of his work. Two children’s books illustrated with Prof. Norris Wood, Jungles and Rivers & Lakes, from the Nature Hide & Seek series have sold over a Million copies worldwide.

Working with Fantini Mosaici of Milan, Kevin has created a unique floral design for the marble floor of the 18,000 sq m Sahan or courtyard in The Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi. He also designed other large floors and archways within the mosque in collaboration with the international architects Spatium, Milan. The Grand Mosque opened in March 2008.

In May 2008 Kevin showed his first collection of wallpapers at The International Contemporary Furniture Fair, New York. The English Roses collection of wallpapers is traditional/classic but the scale of the designs, the colours and materials used give the collection a very contemporary look. The collection was very well received by the design industry and Kevin has added some exclusive textiles and tableware to the range.

An experienced teacher and lecturer, Kevin has taught at The Royal College of Art, The Eden Project and in schools and colleges around the UK. He has lectured at The V&A and The Dulwich Picture Gallery. Kevin lives on the south coast of England with his wife, 3 lively sons and a large collection of plants.

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Katy Donaldson

Katy Donaldson has been a professional photographer for over 20 years. She has lived and worked in London, Dubai, Italy, Brussels and Athens. Now based in Kent in the south east of England she returns to Dubai regularly and maintains a strong affection for the city and the region. Originally trained as a traditional portrait photographer in London’s Bond Street, Katy has since expanded her work to include fine art, still life, fashion, beauty, landscape travel and commercial. She has exhibited her work in solo and group exhibitions and worked for several magazines both in the UK, Dubai and Internationally.

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