Art Exhibition @ White Cube Gallery 'Inspirations' July 24

Welcome to our 'Inspirations' exhibition video!

This was a monumental step for Guy Bennington and Manos Felice, their first joint venture after many group shows. The challenge of merging their distinct styles – Guy's vibrant acrylics and screen prints with Manos's graphite and charcoal realism – into a cohesive exhibition seemed daunting.

Thankfully, the expert curation of Cheryl Gould, aided by Roy Rodgers and Humay Jairazbhoy, transformed their vision into a stunning reality. Join us as we delve into the heart of our 'Inspirations' show.

GUY BENNINGTON
Guy Bennington is a professional Artist and Graphic Designer, who trained at Harrow School of Art,
London and completed a Postgraduate MA course in Printmaking at Brighton Art College, Sussex.
Guy works mainly in painting and printmaking and has exhibited in various group shows around the UK including, in London, the Barbican, Mall Galleries and Lyric Theatre. He has also had screenprints included in the International print shows in Spain.

He has followed a career as a graphic designer in the publishing industry and was an Art Editor, then an Art Director at BBC magazines for many years. He currently works as a freelance designer, allowing him to focus more time on his artwork. Guy’s inspiration comes from capturing what’s around him in nature, exploring form, shape and light in his landscape paintings. His printmaking
work takes a more graphic approach to his personal vision. Guy has been a member of the Harrow Art Society since 2022.

Artist Statement
“Keep looking, keep observing, stay curious, keep developing, keep that excitement. I like to
learn from other artists around me, which joining Harrow Art Society allows me to do.
Producing visual work, you get used to constructive criticism but then using it to improve.
Observing what is directly around me as influences in my work, I began focusing on detail,
then forms in nature, then landscape in painting. The discipline of screenprinting allows me
to explore a flat graphic style. I also enjoy life drawing, something I’ve continued to do
with artist Cheryl Gould’s live studio sessions, here at Harrow Arts Centre.”

www.guybennington.co.uk

MANOS FELICE
Manos Felice is a Harrow based Pencil Artist from Anglo/Italian heritage. Working in Graphite &
Charcoal he produces highly detailed works in a photo realistic style. Since becoming a professional artist in 2020, Manos has focused heavily on developing his craft by undertaking
numerous studies in Anatomy, Photo Realism, and Portraiture.

In August 2021 he was featured in a competition by ‘Artists & Illustrators’ magazine with his piece entitled ‘Great White’ as Editor’s pick. In May 2023 he exhibited for the first time with Harrow Art Society at The White Cube Gallery within Harrow Art Centre and received their ‘Ian Wright
Memorial Prize’ award for best Graphite representation.

Previously, Manos expressed his creative talents through music, having been a professional percussionist for 20 years. Hearing difficulties caused a withdrawal from this profession, and
he is now delighted to be creating again and expressing his new passion for drawing and art.

Artist Statement
“It’s been said that not everything in life is Black and White!
For me, I find beauty and intrigue when exposed to the fundamental rawness of Black and
White imagery. When I put pencil to paper, in Graphite or Charcoal, I experience a deeper appreciation for life’s subtleties by removing distractions of colour and focusing on forms, textures, shading and tone. It’s why I’m drawn to Photo-realism, as it arouses both my desire for expressing my truth and an innate attention for details.

I am seduced by the apparent simplicity of a pencil and like to explore the boundaries of what’s
possible with these most basic of tools. Creating an artwork with pencils helps me to explore my
inner sanctum, create peace within and at the same time examine my truth. I strive to make an emotional connection that’s natural and offer the viewer an insight into how I view reality, with all its beauty in our projected world.”

www.manosfeliceart.co.uk

What is Inspiration?
Inspiration is a spark, a whisper of possibility that ignites a fire within. It's a force that transcends the ordinary, pulling us from the mundane and propelling us towards creation. It can be found in the brushstrokes of a masterpiece, the melody of a song, or the quiet resilience of a stranger. It's a universal language, a bridge that connects us to something greater than ourselves. When we're touched by inspiration, we're not just inspired to do, but to become. We become artists, dreamers, and builders, forever chasing the ever-evolving light that guides us on our unique human journeys.

Music: Bensound.com
Andriymashtalir - Distant Land
Nick Petrov - Mellow Skies
Veace D - Elevation
Twins Music - Rise

@harrowartsociety @ManosFeliceArt @harrowartscentre